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BAPTISM, 


DESIGNED  FOK  THE  EE^iEFIT  OS 


COMMON   READERS, 


BY  JONATHAN  ^I'SHER,  A.  M. 


BOSTON' : 

PUBLISHED  BY  S.UrjEL  T.  Ail!>ISTROXef, 
.Yo.  50,  CornJiiU. 

THOMAS  C.  EAKCS,  rrvIJJTES. 

1817. 


>)ISTRICT  O?  MASSACHUSETTS,  TO  >VIT: 

DUtrici  Clerk's  OJkt, 

BE  it  remembered,  that  on  <he  tweaty-second  day  of  Sep- 
tember, A.D.  1817,  and  in  the  forty--econJ  year  of  the  Iiulependence 
of  the  United  States  of  Amenca,  Jojiallian  Fisher,  Jl.  M.  of  the  said 
District,  has  deposited  in  this  OSce  the  TilJe  of  a  Book,  the  Right 
^'/hereof  he  claims  ?,s  Aathor,  in  the  words  following,  to  w-it — ''A 
SHORT  ESSAY  ON  BAPTISM,  designed  for  the  Benefit  of  Com- 
311011  Reader?.  By  Johatiian  Fisher^j  A.  M.  Minister  of  the  Gospel 
in  Bluehill,  Maine." 

In  coufornnty  to  the  Act  of  t|ie  Congress  of  the  United  States,  en- 
titled '*■  An  Act  for  the  Enccuragemeni  of  Learning,  by  securing  the 
Copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of 
su^h  Copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  :*'  and  also  to  an 
Act  entitled,  "  An  Act  ss'ppleraentary  io  an  Act,  entitled  An  Act  for 
the  Encoi'.ragement  of  L;:'arninjr,  by  securijig  the  Copies  of  Maps, 
Charts,  and  Books,  io  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  5uch  Copies, 
during  the  times  therein  rcenlioned  ;  and  extending  the  Benedts  there- 
of to  the  Art:  cf  pesigniu^,  Engraving  and  Etching  Historical,  au«l 
Qihcr  Pr'ati/'"' 

JOHN  W.  DAVIS, 
CUrkofths  Dix^triii  of  MassixJtiudts, 


\ 


^^/         % 


IxNTRODUCTION 


:;iV    DEAR    FRIENDS,. 

IT  is  my  desire,  and  slialS  .be  my  endeavour,  in  what 

T  am  about  to  o/Ter  you  in  this  little  book,  to  use  great  plaiuneis  of 
Kpcech.  I  hc'.vo  (onnd  bj  exprneiicc  that  it  is  very  hard,iriiiirtny  cai- 
cs,  to  accoinmodatc  our.-clve.i  to  tliu  rapacities  of  the  unk-arfieci. 
When  by  long  ^tndy  and  meditation  we  are  become  well  JicquaintetJ 
rj'nh  a  sn'oieci,  we  are  apt  to  forgtt  innny  of"  tli«  difficulties  we  licid  to 
encounter  hy  the  way,  and  to  (eel  as  if  oilier?,  with  uu  easy  step  ot 
l»ro,  might  reach  ihe  summii  of  the  steep,  v/liich  we  liave  asceudeci 
with  much  labo'.ir.  If  we  would  instruct  others,  it  is  necer-sary  that 
we  should  bring  to  view  something-  beyond  M'hat  they  already  know  ; 
but  it  becomes  xis  to  do  h  ia  the  most  i'kiu  and  familiar  language  thai 
^ye  can. 

The  ordinjince  of  Bavlis-sn  is  ^subject,  which  I  have  often  revolved 
ia  raind,  and.  I  trust  I  do  in  a  infeaiure  fee!  it  to  be  important,  Mucb^ 
has  been  written  upon  it  by  many  abler  hands  than  ir.ine,  yet  stiii 
there  may  be  vcom  for  eomething  more.  Much  of  what  has  been  wril  - 
tea  is  not  v.iihin  the  reach  cf  the  poorer  classee  of  people  ;  eiDicr  it  is 
in  volumes  too  large  to  be  purchased  by  them,  or  it  is  not  frequeiitly 
\o  bf  met  with,  or  it  is  above  the  reach  of  their  understanding,  if  iii 
wijat  follows  I  maybe  able  to  offLi  something  upon  the  subject,  ^'^hic!^ 
.•hal!  be  plain,  cheap,  and  useful,  the  praise  be  to  God,  not  to  me  ;  In 
the  mean  time  I  shall  not  regret  the  paii;5  1  may  have  taken,  in  tijis 
uray,  to  promote  his  glorj* 

I  kcow  that  in  the  present,  fallen  state,  we  are  liable  to  be  in/lu- 
tnced  by  prejudice  ;  tiie  sad  principle  of  unhallowed  self-h^ve  Iwrk'* 
more  or  less  in  the  bosoms  of  us  rdl,  of  whatever  name,  or  donomiaa- 
tion.  This  has  sometimes  such  an  effect,  that  we  may  rrad  several 
pages  of  a  book,  and  think  it  all  well,  till  we  discover  ihat  it  w;is 
wiitten  by  one  of  an  opposite  pr>rty,  and  then  it  sIiaII  appear  abun- 
dantly defective.  It  is  my  prayer,  and  shall  be  my  endeavour,  in 
what  follows,  to  be  free  from  prejudice  ;  ami  how  far  I  sl^all  succcvd 
iu  this,  those  may  best  judge,  who  are  freest  from  prejudice  thcuiseJvef, 


Yi  JNTROBUCTiOX. 

tir  %5:amin;Hp;  tl^  sfcljcet  Oi"  Bnplisn-:  I  purr,o~e  fo  matre  tiie  I-to>j 
Scri;  iuros  my  leading  guide-.  li"  I  at  ;i]]  recur  lo  ether  hislcnr,  it  aXvoXi 
Kc{.  be  to  bui!d  fepon  the  opinion  of  uinnspired  men,  but  only  in  proof 
fti'  facts  concerning  the  slata  of  baptism  since  tiie  days  of  the  Apos- 
tles. The  ScMptcies,  bothoftlie  Oldjp.nd  New  Testcmeuts,  I  revere  ; 
I  bfcjieve  both  Testaments  are  still  profitable  for  ddctiine,  for  reproof, 
for  correction,  and  for  instruction  in  righteou.:nefi!\  AVhatever  has  a 
natural  tendency  to  lead  us  to  slight  the  Old  Tcstamcntj  or  to  think 
lightly  of  it,  as  a  dead  letter,  certainly  is  not  of  God. 

I  pray  for  divine  illaiuination  ;  I  expect  not  tny  new  revelation  ; 
the  assistance  I  hope  for  from  the  Spirit  of  troth,  is  ihit  opening  and 
enlarging  of  ciind,  through  which  1  may  understand  the  n;ore  clearly 
the  t-uths  already  revealed,  i  hope-a'so  for  that  sanctification  of 
Leart,  by  which  I  n^ay  be  disposed  to  embrace  these  trnths  in  the 
iove  of  them. 

To  the  la'u)  and  to  the  itstimo-ny^  to  the  '.vkolc  wrIMen  xvord  xve 
must  sppeal ;  and  all  other  Ijght,  vVhich  do«s  not  agrc«;  Milh  this,  \re 
mnst  reject,  a?,  the  glimmering  of  delusion. 

Parent  of  goodness,  and  Fountain  of  Light,  with  whom  is  no  varia- 
bleness, nor  shadovr  of  turning  I  nato  Thee  I  Icok  ;  O  help  me  i'ov  the 
sake  of  thy  dear  Son  ;  I'?ad  me  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  into  all  truth  ;  I  asK 
thy  blessing  upon  what  I  ara  £bcat  to  olierin  thy  name  ;  gvj.ut  tha,t  it 
iiiay  relieve  the  doubts  cf  soffie  of  my  fellow  trrivelltis,  while  en  ths 
way  to  Zion  ;  ar^d  thaX  it  may  help  thi;:ii  to  a  more  c'ear  and  enlarged 
view  ofsome  of  the  doctrines  of  thy  blessed  noitt  ;  kt  it  zssht  a  little 
in  preparing  f=oiae  lively  stones  for  thy  temple,  and  in  buiidin^  lliat- 
l^ouse  of  God,  which  shall  forevtr  think,  lo  thy  gloiy,  t»id  be  to  ti»v 
5)rai-;e  of  ti:e  glcry  of  tl.y  grace. 

JONATIIA^I  FFSII.EIT, 


f^' 


ESSAY 


ON 


iB^ip^a^m. 


CHAPTER  r. 

OF  BAPTISM  IN  GENERAL- 

Question  1.  WHAT  are  we  to  undersiand  by 
baptism  in  general  ? 

Answer,     We  are  to  understand  hj  it,  I.  A 
acramental  washing.   2.  The  inward  commimi- 
aticn  of  grace  by  the  Spirit  of  God.    3.  The 
bedding  forth  of  the  miraculons  gifts   of  thfe 
loly  Ghost.  4.  A  system  of  doctrine,  in  which 
sacramental  washing   is  a  leading   fvMture.  5, 
lartjrdora,    or  suffering  death  m  the  cause  of 
uligion. 
1.  Baptism  is  a  sacramental    washing.     B} 
'Sacramenial  'xashhig  we   are    to    imdersLand 
fie  real  apphcation  of  water  to  a    person,  or 
iiing,  in  some  way  or  other,  as  a  rehVioiis  ordi- 
|ince,  or  rite,  to  signify  some  kind  of  purifica'* 
ion  or  cleansirig. 

i  Baptism  in  this  Si  nse  of  it  is  fonnd  in  the 
allowing  texts  of  scripture,  rendered  word  foi' 
lord,  as  nearly  as  possible,  from  the  Greek 
j-iginaL 

1* 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISiU. 


1.  Matth.  iii.  5,  6.  Then  went  out  to  him,  (to 
John)  Jerusalem  and  all  Judea,  and  all  the  re- 
gion round  about  Jordan  )  and  >vere  baptised  ia 
(or  at)  Jordan,  of  (or  by)  him,  confessing  their 
sins. 

In  this  instance  there  was,  no  doubt,  an  appli- 
cation of  water  in  some  way  to  these  persons  ; 
and  this  v/as  a  religious  rite,  because  connected 
with  the  preaching  of  John,  mentioned  before 
it,  and  also  with  their  confession  of  sin.  Their  \ 
confession  of  sin  was  in  order  to  its  removal^! 
and  the  removal  of  sin  is  a  cleansing  of  the 
soul  ;  to  signify  this  cleansing  seems  to  be  the 
intention,  in  part,  of  the  washing,"  or  baptism, 
here  mentioned. 

2.  Matth.  iii.  11.  I  indeed  baptise  you  with| 
(or  in)  water,  to  repentance. 

Here  with  or  in  water  implies  an  application 
of  water;  this  being  in  order  to  repentance.! 
shows  it  to  be  a  religious  rite  ;  repentance  ben 
ing  in  order  to  a  cleansing  from  sin,  this  applican 
tion  of  w^ter  signifies  cleansing. 

3.  Matth.  iii.  16.  And  Jesus,  being  baptized, 
went  up  straightway  (or  immediately)  out  oi 
(or  from)  the  water. 

Here  is  implied  an  application  of  water,  am; 
tliis  as  a  religious  ordinance  ;  for  Jesus  requircc 
it  as  a  fulfilling  of  righteousness.  It  was  ii 
token  of  cleansing  ;  for  it  signified  in  genera 
that  those,  who  enter  upon  the  priest's  olhcd 
should  be  clean. 

These  instances  may  suffice  to  show  tha 
Baptism,  in    one  sense  of  it,  is.  a   swramentc, 


v;asuinz 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTIS.M. 


MEDITATION. 

Look,  O  my  soul,  at  the  great  ideas  brought 
.0  ylew  by  Baptism  in  this  sense  of  it.  Here 
^ve  are  taught  by  a  lively  emblem,  that  we  are 
ill  polluted.  As  said  by  the  Prophet,  Iza.  Ixiy. 
3.  We  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing  ;  and  all  our 
Hghteovsnesses  are  as  filthy  rags  !  To  what 
Dart  of  us  is  this  filthiness  attached  ?  Not; 
;trictly  speaking,  to  our  bodies  ;  there  may  be 
m  special  uncle anness  adhering  to  these.  Alas, 
-ye  are  the  subjects  of  a  more  odious  defilement ; 
kiv  souls  are  polluted  !  Sin  is  the  filth,  which 
rests  upon  them  ;  or  rather  the  stain,  which  is 
.!unk  deep  into  them.  Our  very  nature  is  defiled ; 
!his  defilement  we  derive  from  our  first  parents, 
ithrough  connection  with  them  in  their  fall  ; 
rom  them  we  inherit  a  principle,  the  first  fruit. 
;j»f  which  is  d(!part\ire  from  God  ;  7 he  wicked 
n^e  estranged  from  the  loonih^  they  go  astray  as 
'Oon  as  they  are  horn^  speaking  lies.  How  justly 
iaight  God  cast  us  all  from  him  in  this  pollution, 
ind  say  to  us  with  abhorrence.  Get  ye  hence, 
^iess  the  Lord,  O  my  sou],  that  a  way  is  pro- 
ided,  in  which  the  spiritual  filth  may  be  re- 
loyed.  ^  Baptism^  as  a  sacramental  washing  cf 
ivine  institution,  signifies  that  souls  may  be 
jleansed  and  saved,  and  God  remain  just.  "  Be- 
jold,  a  film  tain  is  opened  to  the  house  of  David^ 
ml  to  the  ircitahitanis  cf  Jerusalem  for  sin  and 
|jr  uncleanness.  Jesus  is.  this  fountain  ;  here 
j-asli,  O  my  soulj  and  be  thou  clean. 


:  2.  By   Baptism  wo  may  understand  the  in- 
ard  commimication  of  grace  by  the   Spirit  of 


Ii>  ESSAY    ON    BAPTIS3^ 

Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefc'  e  we  are  buried  with 
him  by  baptism  into  death,  that  like  as  Christ 
was  raised  up  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even 
so  we  also  should  walk  in  newness  of  life. 

Baptism  here  signifies  a  becoming  dead  to 
sin  through  interest  in  the  death  of  Christ ;  and 
a  becoming  alive  to  holiness,  as  Jesus  was  raised 
to  life  from  the  tomb.  This  becoming  dead  to 
sin  is  through  a  shedding  forth  of  the  influence 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  heart,  by  whicii 
influence  inward  g-race  is  communicated  to  the 
3oul,  which  grace,  as  a  holy  seed,  springs  up  m 
a  new  life.  Whatever  allusion  there  may  be 
in  this  place  to  outward  baptism,  it  is  certainly 
an  inward,  spiritual  baptism,  which  is  here  espe- 
cially intended  ;  for  if  the  outward,  literal  bap- 
tism were  intended,  thenr  it  imjst  be  the  bap- 
tism of  martyrdom,  or  of  blood,  in  which  the 
subject  literally  suffers  death, 

1.  Corin.  xii.  13,  For  by  one  Spirit  we  are  all 
baptized  into  one  body,  whether  we  be  Jews 
or  Gentiles,  (Greeks,)  whether  we  be  bond  or 
free  ;  and  have  been  all  made  to  di'ink  into  one 
Spirit. 

As  appears  by  the  connection,  the  body,  here 
mentioned,  signifies  the  invisible  Church  of 
Christ,  the  whole-  number  of  true  believers  ; 
each  individual  of  this  number  is  entered  into 
this  body  particularly  by  the  inward  cojnmuni- 
cation  of  grace  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  this  is 
done  in  the  work  of  regeneration,  in  which  the 
Spirit  of  God  is  poured  forth  upon  the  person, 
who  is  the  subject  of  it,  according  to  a  frequent 
mauiier.  of  speaking  m  Scripture,  in  allusion  to 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTlS^r.  9 

fhis  mode  of  speech,  tliis  inward  communicatior? 
of  grace  by  the  Spirit  of  God  is  called  baptism. 

xMEDITATION. 

How  great  are  the  mysteries  of  godliness  1' 
By  one  Spirit  we  are  baplized  ;  Who,  or  what 
is  tiiis  one  Spirit  ?  It  is  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  ; 
that  Spirit,  to  whom,  in  the  HolyScriptures,  a 
distinct  personah'ty  is  ascribed  ;  but  who  is  so 
united  in  the  Godhead,  as  to  be  essentially  one 
with   the  Father  and   the  Son,     But  O,  I    ain^ 

f  thee,  thou 


avenlj  wind. 


Cjuickly  lost  in  the  contemplation  o 
all-pervading  Spirit,  who,  like  a  he 
breathest  upon  our  dry  bones,  that  the  spirit  o; 
life  moy  enter  into  us  !  Glory  to  thee,  O  then 
Jtli  present  Power,  by  whom  the  salvation,  pur- 
chased by  Jesus  Christ,  is  applied  to  our  souls, 
and  by  whose  divine  operation  we  are  fitted  ta 
be  parts  of  the  one  6ody  of  Christ,  and  with 
wonderful  wisdom  are  united  in  that  glorious 
body  ! 

— 04-0 — 

3.  By  Baptism  we  may  understand  the  shed-- 
ding  forth  of  the  miramlous  gifts  of  the  Holy' 
Ghost. 

Mattli.  iii.  11.  I  indeed  baptize  you  with  (cr 
in)  water,  unto  repentance ;  but  he  that  cometh 
after  me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose  shoes  I  am 
not  worthy  to  bear;  he  shall  baptize  you  with 
(or  in)  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with  fire.  See 
also  Mark  i.  8.  and  Luke  iii.  16. — Acts  i.  5.  John 
indeed  baptized  with  water,  but  ye  shall  be  bap- 
tized with,  (or  in)  the  Holy  Ghost,  not  many 
days  heiye.    Acts  ii.  3,  4.  And  there  appeared 


lO  ESSAY   05    BAPTWI^r. 

unto  them  cloven  tongues,  like  as  of  fire,  ^nii 
it  sat  upon  each  of  them,  and  thej  were  all  fill- 
ed  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to  speak 
with  other  tongues^  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  ut- 
terance. ¥.  16,  17.  This  is  that  which  was*. 
spoken  by  the  prophet  Joel  ;  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  in  the  last  days.  (saithGod)  I  will  pour- 
cut  of  mj  Spirit  upon  all  ilesh.  V.  33.  There- 
fore, being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted, 
emd  havino'  received  of  the  Father  the  promise 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this, 
which  ye  now  see  and  hear. 

In  thes3  quotations  w^e  have,  1.  Tlie  predic- 
tion of  John,  that  Jesus  should  baptize  w^th  the 
Holv  Ghost,  and  with  fire.  2.  An  allusion  to  this 
prediction,  and  a  confirmation  of  it  in  the  words 
of  Christ  to  his  disciples,  a  little  before  his  as- 
cension. 3.  A  history  of  a  miraculous  tippear- 
knee,  as  of  tongues,  composed  of  divided  iiamer> 
of  fire,  sitting  upon  each  of  these  disciples,  and 
?in  account  of  their  being  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghost.  4.  An  explanation  of  this  event,  as  being 
a  fulfilment  of  some  part  of  that  prophecy  in 
Joel,  in  which  God  promises  to  pour  out  his  Spir- 
it upon  all  ^esh,  kc. — and  5,  A  declaration  that 
Jesuy,  ha\ing  received  the  promised  Spint  of  the 
Father,  had  shed  forth  those  miraculous  effects, 
>v  hich  w^ere  then  manifest  to  the  senses  of  the 
wondering  people. 

A  just  conclusion  from  this  is,  that  the  term 
Bapiisnu  in  Scripture,  is  sometimes  used  to  sig- 
nify the  shedding,  or  pouring  forth  of  the  mi- 
raculous gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


tSSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  1  I 


MEDITATION. 

Behold  the  care  of  the  blessed  God  over  his 
Church !  It  shall  be  supported  through  all  ages, 
and  it  will  make  its  waj  through  all  obstacles. 
After  satan  has  been  suiiered  to  quench  this 
light  of  the  world,  this  holy  fire,  a  little  on  this 
side,  and  a  little  on  that  side,  till  but  a  fev/  liv- 
ing coals  remain,  (120  names,)  it  shall  siidde^ily 
Tbm'st  forthj  and  kindle  on  every  side,  to  the  dis- 
may and  terror  pf  the  adversaiy.  Yf  hat  though 
the  instruments  be  a  few  .Galileans,  not  very 
jearned,  and  the  multitude  around  them  be  a 
collection  from  many  nations  of  different  tcngues? 
The  gospel  of  salvation  shall  be  preached  to 
them  all,  and  the  word  shall  reach  their  ears, 
their  understandings,  and  their  hearts,  and  be 
fruitful  in  the  conversion  of  a  large  number. 
And  in  failure  of  a  sufficiency  of  human  m.eans5 
divine  means  shall  be  added ;  the  opporiunity 
for  the  learning  of  tongues  not  being  enjoyed, 
the  gift  of  tongues  shall  be  besiov/ed,  and  the 
great,  good  work  of  enlarging  the  Church,  shall 
be  accomplished.  O  my  soul,  repose  thyself 
under  such  parental  care,  and  rest  thee  in  peace  : 
no  evil  shall  come  nigh  thee. 

4.  By  Baptism  we  may  understand  a  s?,>sierA 
of  doctrine,  in  which  a  sacraeientai  washing  i% 
a  leading  feature. 

Match,  xxi.  25.  The  £apHs7noi  JoliD^whcncf^ 
v/as  it  ?  from  heaven,  or  of  men  ?  See  aiso- 
Mark  xi.  30.  Luke  xx.  4— Acts  i^  22.  Begin- 
iiing  irox^  the  Baptism  of  John.     Acts  xviif.  25. 


;12  ,  ESSAY  ox    BAPTIS.^. 

his  man  (iVpollos)  was  instructed  in  iYiG  waj 
oi  the  Lord,  and  being  fervent  in  spirit,  he 
spake  and  taught  diligently  the  things  of  the 
Lord,  knowing  onlj  the  Baptism  of  John. 

In  these  texts,  especially  the  last  of  them,  it 
i'3  very  evident  that  more  is  included  in  the  word 
Baptism,  than  merely  that  sacramental  wash- 
ing, which  John  made  use  of;  the  calling,  cora- 
missicH,  preaching,  and  doctrine  of  John  are 
no  doubt  intended  by  it. — With  this,  ApoHos 
was  acqiiainted^and  according  to  the  teaching 
of  John,  so  he  taught.  But  cis  baptizing,  or  the 
application  of  a  sacramental  washing  to  his 
hearers  was  a  leading  and  striking  part  of  John's 
administration,  his  w'hole  preaching  and  dcG- 
trinc,  including  this  application  of  water,  is  con- 
-yeniently  expressed  by  the  term,  Baptism, 

MEDITATION. 
IBehoId,  says  God  in  the  closing  part  of  the 
Old  Testament,  I  will  send  you  Elijah,  the 
prophet,  before  the  coming  of  the  ^reat  and 
dreadiul  day  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shaU  turn  the 
-heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  ihe 
heart  of  the  children  to  their  fathers,  lest  J 
come  and  smite  ihc  earth  with  a  curse.  In  con- 
nection with. this  subject  let  us  view  the  good- 
ness and  compassion  cf  God,  and  the  honour, 
which  he  pius  upon  his  dear  Son,  The  begin- 
ning of  the  administration  of  Jesus  Christ  is  cal- 
led, the  coming  of  the  great  and  terrible  day 
of  tlic  Lord  ;  an  expression,  which  implies  a 
vast  dignity  in  the  person  of  Jesus,  »id  that  his 
coming  is  big  with  tremendous  C0Kscquer*cc3.  So 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  "J  3 

vile,  SO  polluted,  and  so  utterly  unprepared  M^erc 
'4he  Jews  about  this  time  for  the  reception  of 
the  Son  of  God,  that  had  ho  been  ushered  m 
among  them  with  all  the  splendor  of  divine 
light,  without  the  previous  administration  of 
John  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming,  he 
would  probably  have  been  treated  wdth  that 
contempt  and  indignity  by  the  nation  in  general, 
which  would  have  raised  the  divine  jealousy  to 
aflame,  and  would  have  brought  swift  destruc- 
tion upon  the  land. 

But  by  the  coming  and  preaching  of  John,  a 
spirit  of  enquiry  \sias  excited ;  multitudes  of  the 
people  were  convinced  that  his  administration 
was  from  heaven  ;  the  common  people  in  gen- 
eral accounted  him  to  be  a  prophet  ;  by  his  la- 
bour, the  prejudices  of  many  w^cre  removed, 
even  prejudices,  which  would  have  barred 
their  hearts  against  the  reception  of  Jesus,  as 
the  Messiah  ;  and  multitudes  were  brought  to 
be  the  subjects  of  that  inward  purification  of 
heart,  and  that  outward,  ceremonial  cleansing, 
by  which  together  they  were  60  sanctified,  that 
the  divine  purity  of  Jesus  should  not  break 
forth  upon  them,  like  fire,  a^d  consume  them. 
Luke  i.  17.  and  he  shal'  go  bef;.>re  him  in  the 
spirit  and  power  of  Elias — to  make  ready  a 
people,  prepared  for  the  Lord.  Improve 
the  subject,  O  my  soul,  as  a  warning  ta  en- 
deavour to  be  carefully  prepared  hy  inv/ard 
sanctificatich  for  all  those  solemn  seasons  of 
worship,  and  all  thoae  ordinances,  in  which  the 
foleosed  Redeemer  is  wont  especially  to  manifest 


14*^  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

his  glorious  presence.  Venture  not  upon  the 
duties  of  the  sanctuary,  without  the  blood  of 
sanctification  sprinkled  upon  thee. 

5.  The  word  Baptism  is  used  in  scripture  to 
signify  Martyrdom^  or  the  suffering  of  death 
in  the  cause  of  religion. 

Matth.  XX.  22,  23.  But  Jesus  answered  and 
said,  Ye  know  not  what  ye  ask ;  are  ye  able  to 
drink  of  the  cup,  that  I  shall  drink  of?  and  to 
be  baptized  with  the  baptism  that  I  am  bap- 
tized with  ?  They  say  unto  him.  We  are  able  ; 
and  he  saith  unto  them,  Ye  shall  indeed  drink 
of  my  cup,  and  be  baptized  with  the  baptism 
that  I  am  baptized  with.  See  also  Mark  x.  38, 
39.  Luke  xii.  50.  But  I  have  a  baptism  to  be 
baptized  with,  and  how  am  I  straitened,  till  it 
be  accomplished  ! 

John  xviii.  11.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  Peter, 
Put  up  thy  sword  into  the  sheath  ;  the  cup 
which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not 
drink  it  ?  ^ 

The  first  of  tltese  texts  is  a  part  of  the  reply 
of  Jesus  to  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  who  had  an 
idea  that  Jesus  was  about  to  set  up  his  kingdom 
in  this  world,  and  were  aspiring  at  high  honors 
in  this  kingdom  ;  Jesus  intimates  that  tiiey  were 
laboring  under  a  great  mistake,  and  that  to  be 
the  subjects  of  his  kingdom,  and  receive  the 
honours  of  it,  they  must  pass  through  suifer- 
ings  and  death  ;  these  he  expresses  by  the  terras, 
c2//),and  ^ap/tim,  both  which  by  the  connextion, 
appear  io  mean  the  same  th'iqg.  That  by  the 
cup,  Jesus  meant  his  sufferings   and  death,  ap- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  15 

pears  from  the  last  mentioned  text,  which  was 
spoken  to  his  disciples  just  as  he  was  taken  by 
the  Jews,  when  Peter  was  about  to  make  re- 
sistance. In  the  text  quoted  from  Luke,  the 
word  Bafiismyhemg  mentioned  as  somethi»g  of 
which  Jesus  was  to  be  the  subject,  and  'm  con- 
nexion with  divisions  and  commotions,  of  which 
he  should  be  the  occasion,  and  in  connexion 
with  his  being  straitened,  pressed,  or  pained, 
till  it  should  be  fii^ished  ;  this  being  spoken  also 
long  after  he  had  receiyed  baptism  in  the  literal 
sence  of  it  ;  from  these  circumstances,  and 
from  the  parallel  texts  we  may  gather,  that  by 
baptism,  Jesus  here  merns  his  sufferings  and 
death ;  by  the  same  term  he  predicts  the  mar- 
tyrdom of  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  which  was  soon 
accomplished  in  the  case  of  one  of  them,  who 
was  slain  by  the  sword  of  Herod.  The  use  of 
the  word  here  is  fisrurative,  and  the  %ure  is 
contained  in  the  idea  of  pouring  out  affliction 
upon  the  suffering  person,  or  the  idea  of  his 
being  overwhelmed  in  distress,  or  that  of  his 
body  being  sprinkled  with  his  own  blood. 

MEDITATION. 
Blessed  and  condescending  Immanuel,  did  it 
behove  thee  to  be  baptized  with  the  out  pour- 
ing of  that  wrath  upon  thy  head,  which  w^as  due 
to  us,  for  our  sins,  that  by  thy  suffering  we 
might  be  redeemed  ?  Was  it  needful. that  thou 
shoijdst  be  baptized  with  the  drops,  yea,  the 
streams  of  thine  own  blood,  that  this  blood 
might  be  applied  to  us  for  the  pardon  of  our 
sins,  fori  our  spiritual  cleansing  and  sanctifica- 


16  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

tion  ?  Precious  blood !  With  tliis  sbalt  thou 
sprinkle  ma»y  nations,  for  its  vahie  is  infinite. 
Precious  sufferings !  by  these  thou  hast  made  a 
complete  atonement  for  sin,  for  they  are  the 
sufie rings  of  God,  the  sufferings  of  Immanuel, 
God  ^vith  us.  Thoti  wast  ivotmded  for  our  trans- 
gressicns,  thou  %cast  bruised  for  our  iniquiiies,  the 
chastisement  of  our  peace ^was  vpon  thee,  and  by 
thy  stripes,  we  are  healed, 

6.  The  five  distinct,  yet  kindred  things,  above 
mentioned,  are  to  bo  understood  by  the  word 
Baptism,  in  the  holy  scriptures.  Besides  these, 
the  apostle  Paul  speaks  of  a  baptism,  v/hich  can 
hardly  be  ranked  with  either  of  them.  This 
is  tlie  baptism  of  the  Israelites  just  after  they 
cd.rrie  out  of  Egypt. 

1.  Cor.  X.  ],  2.  But  I  would  not  that  ye  should 
be  ignorant,  Bretlircn,  that  our  fathers  were 
all  under  the  cloud,  and  all  passed  through  the 
sea,  and  were  all  baptized  unto  Moses  in  (or  by) 
the  cloud,  and  in  (or  by)  the  sea. 

If  tliis  baptism  appertain  to  either  of  the 
five  kinds,  already  considered,  it  must  be  the 
first,  that  of  a  sacramental  washing.  The  his- 
tory of  the  event  is  found  m  Exod.  xiv.  19,22. 
And  the  angel  of  God,  who  Vient  before  the 
camp  of  Israel,  remoAcd,  and  went  behind  thera ; 
and  .the  pillar  of  cloud  went  from  before  their 
face,  and  stood  behind  them.  And  it  came  be- 
tween the  camp  of  the  Egyptians  and  the  camp 
of  Israel,  and  it  was  a  cloud  of  darkness  to  them, 
but  it  gave  light  by  night  to  these,  so  the  one 
cai|ie  not  near  the  other  all  the  night ;  and  Mo-= 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  17 

ses  stretched  out  his  hand  over  the  sea,  and  the 
Lord  caused  the  sea  to  go  back  by  a  strong  east 
wind  ail  that  night,  and  made  the  sea  dry  land  ; 
and  the  waters  were  divided,  and  the  children 
ot  Israel  went  into  the  midst  of  the  sea  upon  dry 
ground.  And  the  waters  were  a  wall  unto  them 
on  their  right  hand,  and  on  their  left.  In  V.  24, 
we  are  informed  that  the  Lord  looked  through 
the  pillar  of  fire,  and  cloud,  and  troubled  the 
Egyptians.  A  sublime  poetic  description  of  all 
this  is  found  in  Psal.  Ixxvii.  16.  to  the  end.  The 
waters  saw  thee,  O  God,  the  waters  saw  thee ; 
they  were  afraid  ;  the  depths  also  were  trou- 
bled. The  clouds  poured  out  water,  the  skies 
sent  out  a  sound ;  thine  arrows  also  went  abroad. 
The  voice  of  thy  thunder  was  in  heaven ;  the 
lightnings  lightned  the  world  ;  the  earth  trem- 
bled and  shook.  Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  and 
thy  path  in  the  great  waters,  and  thy  footsteps 
are  not  known.  Thou  leddest  thy  people  like 
a  flock  by  the  hand  of  Moses  and  Aaron. 

From  all  this  we  may  collect  the  following 
particulars  : 

1.  That  sometime  in  the  day  preceeding  tlie 
night'  in  which  the  Red-Sea  was  divided,  I  he 
pillar  of  fire  and  cloud,  attended  by  the  aiii^ciof 
God's  presence,  removed  from  the  front,  or 
v-an,  of  the  host  of  Israel,  passed  ov^er  thoii- 
heads,  and  settled  down  in  their  rear,  between 
them  and  the  Egyptians. 

2.  That  during  the  whole  night  after  tliis  re- 
moval of  the  cloud,  a  part  of  the  sea  beirig  held 
by  miraculous  power,  the  other  part  was  driven 
and  divided  from  it  by  a  strong  east  wind. 


18  BBSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

3.  That  the  next  daj,  or  night,  after  the  sea 
"was  divided,  the  Israehtes  entered  it,  aad  pas- 
sed along  during  the  night  on  the  bed  of  the 
sea,  on  dry  ground. 

4.  That  during  the  same  night  the  host  of 
Pkaroah  entered  the  sea,  and  pursued  after 
them. 

5.  That  three  or  four  hours  after  midnight 
the  pillar  of  fire  and  cloud  became  very  tem- 
pestuous to  the  Egyptians,  coming  over  them, 
pouring  upon  them  torrents  of  rain,  darting 
forth  flashes  of  lightning,  tearing  the  wheels 
from  Pharaoh's  chariots,  and  uttering  peals  of 
thunder,  which  caused  the  earth  itself  to 
tremble. 

From  the  scope  of  the  history  we  may  gath- 
er, that  sometime  after  this,  the  cloud  passed 
back  again  from  the  rear  to  the  front  of  the 
host  of  Israel. 

These  things  taken  into  vicAV,  it  appears  that 
the  baptism  of  the  Israelites  was  by  their  being 
imder  the  pillar  of  cloud,  when  it   passed  over 
them,  and  came  behind  them,  before  they  en- 
tered the  Red  Sea,  or  upon  its  return  to  their 
front,  whenever  that   was  ;  and  also  by  their 
passing  between  the  mountains   of  the   waters 
c>{  the  sea,  which  stood  in  heaps    on  each   side 
of  them;  or  otherwise,  which  seems  more  pro- 
bable, that  it  was  by  the  falling  of  water  from 
the  cloud  upon  them,  and    by  the  lighting  of 
the  spray  of  the  sea  upon  them,  blown  from  it 
for  that  express  purpose  ;  but  after  all,  v»  e  must 
rather  content  ourselves   with  high  probability 
tlKin  pretend  to  certainty  concerning  the  mode 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  19 

of  this  baptism  ;,  this  however  is  manifest,  the 
•whole  host,  small  as  well  as  great,  were  thus 
baptised,  and  the  import  of  their  baptism  in 
this  case  to  Moses,  might  be  this,  to  signify  that 
in  connexion  with  great  and  solemn  events,  they 
were  entered  peculiarly  as  his  disciples,  and  put 
under  his  conduct  and  teaching.  This  baptism 
farther  may  be  considered,  in  some  general 
sense,  as  a  type  of  that  baptism,  which  should 
come  after  it,  in  the  days  of  the  gospel. 

MEDITATION. 

Help  me,  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  to  look 
faithfully  at  the  scene  exhibited  in  this  baptism 
to  Moses.  Thy  much  honoured  apostle  to  the 
Gentiles,  desjred,  under  the  influence  of  inspira- 
tion, that  his  Corinthian  brethren  should  not  be 
ignorant  of  this  event.  Consider  well  the  sub- 
ject, O  my  soul,  and  labor  to  draw  practical  in- 
struction from  it.  The  host  of  Israel,  with 
their  little  ones,  were  baptized  unto  Mc-ses  ; 
they  were  all  the  subjects  of  that  wonderful 
conduct  under  the  hand  of  Moses,  which  ought 
to  have  engaged  them  ail  to  be  his  disciples,  and 
receive  heartily  from  him  those  glorious  in- 
structions, which  he  received  from  God.  To 
'^is  they  were  peculiarly  bound  by  those,  great 
miraculous  operations,  which  waited  upon  Mc- 
ses,  as  their  leader,  in  which  the  cloud  of  their 
defence  passed  over,  and  came  behind  them, 
and  in  which  they  were  guarded  on  both  sides 
by  the  divided  waters  of  the  sea.*'     Behold  iu- 


*  In  vhidi  also  a  plentiful  rain  rffreiKc 
LoTd^  when  if  was  wea'y. 


ihcd  lilt  inheritance    of  the 


20  EESAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

eluded  in  this  baptized  host,  the  real  church  of 
God  ;  behold  in  this  the  visible  church  ;  and 
may  we  not  behold  here  also  a  figure  of  the 
gospel  church  ?  Moses^  Jesus  ;  the  leader  of 
the  church  under  the  former  dispensation,  the 
head  of  the  church  under  the  latter ;  baptized 
parents  and  masters  in  Israel  ;  baptized  adult,, 
professing  christians  ;  baptized  servants,  chil- 
dren, and  even  infants  to  Moses  ;  baptized  ser- 
vants, children,  and  infants  in  the  name  of 
Christ  ;  hypocrites  among  the  covenanting  Is- 
raelites; hypocrites  in  the  visible  church  of 
Christ.  Some  true  children  of  God  in  the  host 
that  came  out  of  Egypt ;  many  new  born  souls 
among  those,  who  professedly  forsake  the  world 
for  Jesus,  and  his  salvation.  Judgments  tempo- 
ral, and  manifest,  falling  upon  the  disobedient 
of  those,  who  were  led  by  Moses  ;  judgment 
eternal  awaiting  the  disobedient  among  those, 
who  have  named  the  name  of  Christ.  Learn 
from  this,  O  my  soul,  to  put  no  confidence  in 
the  flesh  ;  the  name  of  christian  \s  not  to  be  de- 
spised, its  import  is  honourable,  when  it  is  given, 
to  one,  who  is  a  christian  in  reality  ;  but  to 
have  the  name,  and  all  the  outward  privileges 
attending  it,  without  possessing  the  true  spirit 
of  Christ,  will  but  sirik  thee  so  much  the  deepbr 
hereafter  in  wo.  Did  the  unbelieving  Israelites 
fall  in  the  burning  deserts,  notwithstanding  they 
were  all  baptized  to  Moses,,  and  all  drank  of 
the  smitten  rock  ?  So  false  professors  of  Chris- 
tianity must  plunge  at  last  in  the  burning  lake, 
notwithstanding  they  bear  the  christian  name, 
have  been  baptised  unto  Christ,  and    have    en- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM,  21 

jojed  the  outward  benefits  of  this  gospel.  The 
water  of  the  miraculous  cloud,  and  the  water 
of  the  divided  sea,  was  it  not  a  defence  of  the 
liost  of  Israel  ?  And  may  it  not  be  a  figure  of 
the  blood  of  Christ  ?  interest  in  tho  blood  of 
Christ  is  a  perfect  defence  of  the  true  church 
of  God.  O  my  Saviour,  apply  this  blot)d  to 
my  soul,  and  I  also  shall  be  safe, 

CHAPTER  II. 

OF  JOHN'S  BAPTISM. 

Qucs.  WHAT  was  John's  Baptism  ? 

Jlns,  1,  It  w^as  not  properly  christian  bap- 
tism. This  we  may  gather  from  Acts  xix.  2,  6. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Have  ye  received  the 
Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed  ?  And  they  said 
unto  him,  We  have  not  so  much  as  heard, 
whether  there  be  any  Holy  Ghost.  And  he 
paid  unto  them ;  Unto  what  then  were  ye  bap- 
tized ?  And  they  said,  Unto  John's  baptism. 
Then  Paul  said,  John  verily  baptized  with  the 
baptism  of  repentance,  saying  unto  the  people, 
that  they  should  believe  on  him,  who  should 
come  after  him,  that  is,  on  Christ  Jesus.  And 
w  hen  they  heard  this,  they  were  baptized  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  when  Paul  had 
laid  his  hands  on  them,  the  Holy  Ghost  came 
on  them. 

I  am  sensible  that  many  have  held,  tliat  what 
is  here  said  in  V.  b,  When  thry  heard  this  ihcy 
were  baptized  in  (he  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  is 
a  continuation  of  the  history,  which  Paul  is  giv- 
ing of  til*  baptism  of  John  ;  ^nd  that  it  was  the 


22  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 


people,  to  whom  John  spake,  who,  hearing 
what  he  said,  were  baptized  by  him  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Thus  1  once  thought  my- 
self;  but  endeavoring  to  adhere  to  the  most 
obvious  meaning  of  the  passage,  and  to  interpret 
it  according  to  the  most  natural  construction,  I 
have  been  in  a  manner  constrained  to  believe, 
that  it  was  the  twelve  disciples,  here  found  at 
Ephesus,  who,  when  they  heard  what  Paul 
said,  were  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  The  very  question  in  V.^  3.  Unto  what 
were  ye  then  baptized^  seems  to  intimate,,  that 
the  apostle  supposed  that  tiiey  had  not  been 
baptized  with  the  proper  christian  baptism,  in- 
stituted by  Christ  for  the  new  dispensation,  else. 
they  would  have  heard  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be- 
cause the  christian  baptism  was  to  be  adminis- 
tered in  connexion  with  naming  the  Holy  Triri' . 
ity^  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  over  the^ 
person  baptized.  The  apostle  in  answer  to  the 
reply  of  these  twelve  disciples,  seems  in  effect 
to  say.  It  is  true  that  John  baptized  with  that 
baptism,  which  required  repentance,  in  order 
to  a  reception  of  the  Messia.s,  who  should  soon 
follow  him  ;  but  not  with  baptism  in  the  name 
of  the  Holy  Trinity,  according  to  the  particular 
institution  of  Christ,  which  is  frequently  signi- 
fied by  being  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus. — When  Paul  had  in  effect  said  this,  ac- 
cording to  the  most  natural  connexion  of  the 
words  in  the  5th  and  6th  V.  it  appears  that 
these  disciples,  found  at  Ephesus,  v*ore  now 
baptized,  according  to  the  particular  baptism 
instituted  by  Clirist  ;    and  that  being  thus  bap- 


KSSAT    ON    BAPTISM.  23 

tized,  Paul  laid  his  hands  on  them,  and  they 
received  the  Holy  Ghost.  This  to  me  seems 
most  agreeable  to  the  scope  of  the  passage,  and 
the  construction  of  the  words.  If  this  be  the 
true  interpretation,  it  follows,  that  John's  bap- 
tism, though  of  divine  institution,  was  so  far  dif- 
ferent from  what  is  properly  christian  baptism, 
that  it  was  suitable  to  baptize  a  second  time 
those,  who  had  been  baptized  by  him. 

In  these  following  respects,  the  baptism  of 
John  evidently  differs  from  what  is  properly 
called  christian  baptism. 

1.  It  was  not  instituted  by  Christ  as  already 
come  in  the  flesii. 

2.  It  was  not  administered  in  the  name  of 
the  Holy  Trinity. 

3.  It  pertained  not  to  what  Christ  calls  emi- 
nently his    Father^s  kingdom^  the    kingdom   of 
God,  and  the  kingdom  ^heaven  ;  for,  speaking 
of  John,  Christ  says.  He    that  is  least  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  is  greater  than  he, 

2,  The  baptism  of  John,  though  not  proper- 
ly christian  baptism.  ^.'  as  in  some  respect  of  a 
similar  import ;  it  signified  the  washing  or  purg- 
ing awav  of  sin,  and  was  a  bapt'sm  of  r;?pen- 
tance  for  the  remission  of  sins.  It  signif.el  to 
the  people  that  they  lay  under  a  great  Height 
of  sin,  an  awful  burden  of  gwU.  anJ  xreie  cov- 
ered with  pollution,  which  needr.>  ilobe  v/ashed 
away  by  the  blood  of  some  great  atoning  sac- 
rifice. Mark  i.  4. 

3.  The  baptism  of  John  was  a  rite  designed 
to  open  a  way  for  the  manifestation  of  Christ  to 
Israel  :  »  part  of  which  maaifestation  was  made 


24  ESSAY    ON    BAPTIS:,!. 

at  the  time  of  the  baptism  of  Christ's  person, 
when  the  Holy  Ghost  descended  in  the  visible 
form  of  a  dove,  and  sat  en  him,  and  when  there 
came  a  voice  from  heaven,  sajjng-,  This  is  my 
beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  John 
i.  31.  But  ihat  he  should  be  made  manij.st  to  Is' 
rael,  iherefore  am  I  come  hapiizing  with  ivater. 
The  baptism  of  John  farther  assisted  in  mani- 
festing Clhrist  to  Israel  by  exciting  the  general 
attention  of  the  people  to  the  record  which  he 
gave  of  him,  as  the  Lamb  of  God. 

4.  The  baptism  of  John  was  an  ordinance  in- 
stituted to  assist  in  making  ready  a  portion  of 
the  Jewish  Church  for  the  reception  of  the 
.Messias.  Luke  i.  76.  speaking  of  John  ;  And 
thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the  Prophet  of  the 
Highest,  for  thou  shalt  go  before  the  face  of 
the  Lord  to  prepare  his  ways. 

MEDITATION. 

Contemplate  a  little,  O  my  soul,  the  scene 
relating  to  John  the  Baptist.  Look  into  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem,  and  behold  the  aged  and 
venerable  Zacl/arias  before  the  alter  of  incense 
presenting-  an  oifering  to  the  Lord.  Mark  viie 
astonishmcnl;,  'vith  which  he  beholds  a  heavenly 
messenger  in  visible  form.  Thy  wife  shall  con- 
ceive and  bear  a  sen  :  his  name  shall  be  John  ;. 
the  sound  of  grace  shall  be  in  his  very  name  ; 
the  Spirit  of  God  shall  possess  him  from  his 
very  birth  ;  many  of  the  house  of  Israel  shall 
he  turn  to  the  Lord ;  and  shall  prepare  the  way 
for  the  corning  of  tlic  King  of  saints.  Look  in- 
to the  heart  of  Zacharias.. behold  the  wavering. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 


of  Ulibeliel  ;  I  am  old,  and  Elizabeth  is  old  ;  I 
am  Gabriel,  replies  the  angel  ;  for  a  sign  thou 
shalt  be  dumb,  till  the  prophecy  be  accomplish* 
ed.  Behoid  the  wonder  of  the  people,  who 
had  been  prating  in  the  time  of  incense,  when 
ihej  discover  the  change  in  the  aged  priest,  and 
perceive  him  to  be  dumb.  Here  begins  an  en- 
quiry, What  means  this  ?  Look  upon  Elizabeth, 
and  mark  her  faith  from  this  to  the  birth  of  the 
child  ;  contemplate  her  sweet,  spiritual  converse 
with  Mary. — The  child  is  born  ;  blessed  fruit 
of  long  tarrying.  Her  friends  would  call  him 
Zacharias,  after  his  father.  Not  so,  replied 
his  mother,  but  his  name  shall  be  John.  His 
father  wrote,  Plis  name  is  John.  His  tongue 
was  then  loosed,  he  was  no  longer  dumb  ;  he 
spake,  prophecicd,  and  praised  Gcd.  New 
Avonder  is  excited  ;  the  fame  of  this  is  noised 
abroad,  and  thus  a  little  farther  preparation  is 
made  for  the  great  things  to  ensue. 

^Follow  now  the  prophet  of  the  Highest  in 
his  youth  into  the  deserts  ;  look  at  the  sijnpli- 
city  of  his  food  and  dress  ;  behold  him  walk- 
ing to  and  fro  in  the  wi]derness,wrapt  in  the  con- 
templation of  God,  and  heavenly  things.  At 
the  age  of  about  thirty  he  comes  with  a  divine 
commission  into  ihe  land  of  .Judea  ;  see  him 
now  making  known  his  important  office  ;  a  few 
at  first  collect  around  him  ;  upon  these  he 
urges  repentance,  and  a  prepara/ ion  for  a  spee- 
dy approach  of  the  kinirdom  cf  heaven,  or  the 
gospel  dispensation.  The  subject  is  new,  it 
catches  the  attention  of  tlie  multitude  :  The 
remarkable  circumstances  of  his  birth  recur  to 


26  ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM, 

mind  ;  his  fame  spreads,  a  throng  surrounds  him. 
Now  behold  him  in  Bethabara,  anon  upon  the 
bahks  of  Jordan,  then  at  Enon,  near  to  Sahm,, 
applying  the  watery  token  of  purification  to  vast 
numbers,  and  pointing  them  as  with  the  finger, 
to  one  who  should  soon  appear  to  take  away 
sin  by  his  own  precious  blood.  To  the  imperj- 
itcnt  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hear  him  protest  ; 
The  axe  is  laid  at  the  root  of  tlie  trees  ;  to  become 
partakers  in  the  blessings  intended  by  this  bap- 
tism, it  is  not  enough  that  you  claim  it  as  chil- 
dren of  Abpaham  ;  you,  who  enter  the  claim, 
must  show  your  repentance  and  meetness  by 
outward,  and  manifest  fruits  of  holiness.  Be- 
hold him  consecrating  to  his  glorious  ministry 
the  Messias ;  see  Jesus  baptized  of  him 
in  Jordan  ;  see  the  heavens  opened — see 
the  spirit  descending — hear  the  voice  from 
above  announcing  the  Sen  of  God.  John 
in  turn  announces  him  also.  Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God,  wdio  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  woild  ! 
Joliii  has  now  discharged  his  most  important  of- 
fice ;  much  he  does  in  a  little  time.  Soon  for  his 
faithful  reproof  of  Herod,  he  is  shut  up  in  pri- 
son ;  then  to  reward  the  daughter  of  Herodias 
for  her  w^anton  dancing,  and  to  gratify  the  re- 
venge of  her  mother,  he  is  beheaded.  Il\% 
ministry  gives  place  to  the  gospel  di^pensatioriy 
he  ascenda  himseif  to  reign  in  glor^-.  " 

Great  God,  <hy  wisdom  and  ihj  grac.^ 

With  thankfsjl  he^rt  I  own, 
Which  sent  (he  Harbinger  cf  Peace 
Pcfor^  ihj  glorious  Son. 


^SSAY   ON    BAPTISM.  '^' 

Away  the  Jewish  darkness  goe§ 

Before  the  Star  of  day, 
The  Prophet  of  the  Highest  shows 
*     Salvation's  glorious  way. 

A  crowd  of  souls,  like  smaller  stars, 

Around  the  prophet  throng, 
With  listening  wonder  ho^^^  their  cars, 

To  his  instructive  tongue. 

^\  Awake,  ye  sjumhering  fouIs  ;  from  fin 

'^  By  deep  repentance  turn  ; 
*'Go  forth  in  garments  white  ond  clean, 

"  And  hail  the. gospel  n^orn." 

CIreat  Son  nf  lUghlcomness  arise  ; 

Before  ihy  brighter  blaze  * 

This  morning  Star  amid5;t  the  skies 

Withdraws  his  humble  rays. 

CHAPTER  III. 

OF  I'HE  BAPTISM  OF  CHRIST'S  PERSON. 

Matth.  iii.  13,  16,  THEN  cometh  Jesiis  from 
Galilee  to  Jordan,  unto  John,  to  be  baptized  of 
him.  But  John  forbad  hini,  saying,  I  have  need 
to  be  baptized  of  thee,  and  comest  thou  to 
me  }  And  Jesus  answering,  said  unto  him,  Suf- 
fer it  to  be  so  now,  fur  thus  it  becometh  us  to 
fulfil  all  righteousness.  Then  he  suffered  him. 
And  Jesus,  w^hen  he  w^as  baptized,  went  up 
straitway  out  of  (or  from)  the  water,  and  lo, 
the  heavens  were  opened  unt;o  him,  and  he  saw 
the  Spirit  of  God  descending  like  a  dove,  and 
lighting  upon  him.  And  lo,  a  voice  from 
heaven,  saying,  this  is  my  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  I    am  well  pleased. 

Luke  iii.  21,  23.  Now  when  all  the  people 
Avere  baptized  it  came  to  pass,  that  Jesus  also, 
being  b^tized,  and   praying,   the  heaven  was 


2C 


ESSAY    O.^    BAPTISM. 


opened,  and  the  Holj  Ghost  descended  in  a  1>(3^ 
dilj  shape,  Hke  a  dove  upon  him,  and  a  voice 
came  from  heaven,  whicn  said,  Thou  art  my 
beloved  Son,  in  thee  I  am  well  pleased.  And 
Jesus  himself  began  to  be  about  thirty  years' 
o[  age. 

These  texts  contain,  for  substance,  the  ac- 
count of  the  Baptism  of  Christ,  as  we  have  it 
in  Scripture.  This  we  may  now  compare  with, 
the  consecration  of  Aaron  and  his  sons  to  the 
priest's  office. 


1 .  Aaron  and  his  sons  are  eet 
apart  to  minister  to  God  in  the 
priest's  office.     Exo.  xxviii.  4. 

2.  Before  the  consecration  of 
Ac-.Ton  and  his  sons,  tiie  congre- 
j^ation  of  Israel  was  to  be  gath- 
ortd  together  at  the  door  of  the 
tabernacle.     Lev.  viii.  3. 

:i,  Aaron,  ia  his  consecration, 
xvas  washed  with  v/ater  by  the 
door  of  the  tabercaule.  Lev. 
yiii.  C. 

4.  Aaron,  "vvr.en  Ava*hed, 
was  clothed  with  tlie  Holy 
Garments,  which  were  a  1  ad&e 
•f  his  high  ufQce.     }^t.  vi:;.  7. 


5r  Aaron,  when" clothed,  was 
nnnointed  by  Hie  pouring  of  con- 
secrated oil  upon  his  head.  Ler. 
Yiii.  J  2. 

6.  Aaron  was  consecrated  in 
a  strict  observance  of  the  law  of 
the  priesthood,  ordained  of  God. 
Lev.  viii.  5.  Lxo.  xxviii.  29. 

7.  Aaron's  consecration  was 
atteuded  with  the  c/fer.-.r  of  sa- 
crince.     Ltv,  viii.  it?. 


Jesus  Christ  is  called  the  Hi^h 
Priest  of  our  profession,  Ileb. 
iii.  1. 

Before  the  Baptism  of  Jesus, 
the  people  baptized  by  John 
had  been  generally  gathered  to- 
gether to  him,  and  baptized  by 
him.     Litke  iii.  2L 

Jesns,  in  his  consecration  "tra?, 
in  a  sens*,  washed  with  water  by 
the  door  of  heaven,  for  heaven 
then  opened  over  his  YieiA. — 
Luke  iii.  21. 

Jesus,  when  baptized,  was  in- 
vested Avith  authority  from  hea- 
ven for  his  sacred  oflice,  by  tliat 
voice,  which  declaicd  him  to  be 
the  beloved  Son  of  God,  and  by 
the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  a  visible  form.  Matt.  iii.  17. 
Isaiah  Jxi.l,  2. 

Jesus,  when  baptized,  was  an- 
noicted  with  an  unction  from  the 
Holy  One,  by  tlie  descent  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  upon  him.  Mark  i. 
10.  L«ai.  Ixi.   1. 

Jesus  was  baptized  to  fulfil  all 
righteousness.     JMatth.  iii.  13. 


J*^sus,  wpon  being  baptizecJ, 
ofiVred  the  sacrifice  or  prayer. 
Luke  Jii.  .21. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  29 

8.  The  Levites  were  set  apart  Jesus,  when  baptized,  begaa 
for  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  to  be  about  thirty  j^ears  of  age. 
at  the  age  of  30.  Num.  iv.  3.  Luke  iii.  23. 

9.  Aaron  was  sprinkled  with  Jesus,  at  his  second  baptism, 
the  blood  of  the  ram  of  conso-  was  sprinkled  with  his  ov/a 
cration.     Lev.  viii.  blood  irom  his  hands,   his  feet, 

his  side.      Luke  xii.  50. 

From  a  careful  contemplation  of  the  subject, 
keeping  in  view  the  foregoing  particulars,  may 
we  not  conclude,  that  the  baptism  of  Christ's 
person  comprised  a  solemn  consecration  to  that 
office  of  high  priest,  with  which  he  was  cloth- 
ed ?  A  consecration,  not  in  all  respects  similar 
to  that  under  the  law,  but  bearing  a  number  of 
manifest  allusions  to  it.  That  it  comprised  also 
a  measure  of  conformity  to  those,  who  were 
about  to  be  his  followers,  who  were  to  be  bap- 
tized for  the  remission  of  sins  ;  but  not  a  con- 
formity in  all  points,  for  he  had  no  sins  to  re- 
mit ;  and  farther,  that  it  comprised  something 
of  jan  example  of  that  change  of  the  token  of 
the  covenant  of  grace,  which  he  was  about  to 
introduce  into  his  gospel  kingdom. 

In  the  mean  time  the  baptism  of  Christ  wa^ 
well  adapted  to  the  manifestation  of  his  person, 
as  the  true  Messiah,  and  assisted,  in  counexioii 
with  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  him. 
and  the  voice  from  heaven  announcing  lijm  tlie 
Son  pr  God,  to  make  him  known  to  the  mulii« 
tudes  attending  upon  John. 

MEDITATION. 

Glorious  Immanuel !   We  all  have  need  to  be 

washed  by  thee  ;  washed  by  a  spiritual  appli- 

catioi^of  thy  precious  blood  to  our  souls.     Did 

it  become   thee  to  be  washed  by  one  of  us  ? 

3* 


30 


ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM. 


To  be  washed  by  that  Messenger,  whom  thou 
didst  send  before  thy  face,  to  prepare  thy  way 
before  thee  ?  Was  it  for  sin  in  thee,  that  thou 
wast  washed  ?  No  !  for  thou  wast  of  spotless 
purity.  Was  it  to  fulfil  the  law  of  the  priest- 
hood, and  to  consecrate  thee  to  the  of- 
fice, the  holy  ofhce  of  High  Priest  ?  Glorious 
High  Priest  !  Thou  wast  not  consecrated  in 
vain ;  thou  hast  magnified  thine  office  ;  thou 
hast  offered  one  sacrifice  worth  more  than  thou- 
sands of  rams,  and  ten  thousands  of  rivers  of 
oil  ;  thou  hast  offered  thjself  a  sacrifice,  once 
for  ell,  making  an  atonement  for  sin,  by  which 
it  may  be,  not  in  shadow  merely,  but  in  reality 
forever  pardoned. 

Wast  thou  washed  also,  that  in  this  respect 
thou  mightest  be,  in  measure,  conformed  to  thy 
brethren,  who  were  washed  by  thy  servant 
John,  to  signify  a  cleansing  from  sin  ?  Gracious 
condescention  !  May  it  lead  us  to  love  and  to 
adore. 

Wast  thou  also  washed  to  denote  a  change 
of  the  form  of  the  token  of  the  covenant  of 
grace  under  the  gospel  dispensation  ?  Thanks 
be  to  thy  name  that  a  painful  and  bloody  rite 
gives  place  to  one  so  mild.  Finally,  wast 
thou  washed  to  give  opportunity  for  a  wonder- 
ful manifestation  of  thyself  to  Israel,  as  the 
true  Messiah  ?  Manifest  thyself,  O  dear  Re- 
deemer, even  unto  me,  and  in  such  manner  as 
tbou  dost  not  manifest  thyself  unto  the  world. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  31 

CHAPTEIi  IV. 

OF  BAPTISM  BY  THE  DISCIPLES  OF  CHRIST. 

John  iii.  22.  AFTER  these  things  came  Je- 
lus  and  his  disciples  into  the  land  of  Judea,  and 
there  he  tarried  with  them,  and  baptized. 

Vs.  25,  26.  Then  there  arose  a  question  be- 
tween some  of  John's  disciples  and  the  Jews- 
-about  purifying ;  and  they  came  unto  John,  and 
said  unto  him,  Rabbi,  he  that  was  with  thee 
beyond  Jordan,  to  whom  thou  bearest  witness, 
the  same  baptizeth,  and  all  men  come  unto  him. 

John  iv.  1,  3.  When  therefore  the  Lord 
knew  how  the  Pharisees  had  heard  that  Jesus 
made  and  baptized  more  disciples  than  John, 
(though  Jesus  himself  baptized  not,  but  his  dis- 
ciples,) he  left  Judea,  and  departed  into  Galilee. 

From  what  is  here  recorded  we  may  gather, 

1.  That  Jesus  baptized  not  with  his  own 
hand,  but  by  the  ministry  of  his  disciples,  who 
applied  the  token  under  his  direction,  and  au- 
thority. 

He  tarried  with  them,  and  baptized, 

Jesus  himself  baptized  not,  but  his  disciples, 

2.  That  the  number  to  whom  baptism  was^ 
thus  administered  was  very  great. 

So  John  went  out   Jerusalem^  and  all   Judea, 
and  all  the  region  round  about  Jordan,  and  werer. 
baptized  of  him. 

The  same  (Jesus)  baptizeth,  and  all  men  come 
unto  him, — Jesu^  made,  and  baptized  more  disci- 
vies  than  John. 

3.  'yhat  the  baptism  by  Christ's  disciples  ex- 
cited a  question  between  the  disciples  of  John 


32  ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM. 

and  some  of  the  Jev/s,  about  purifying.      John 
iii.  25,  26. 

4.  That  the  baptism  by  Christ's  disciples  ex- 
cited a  measure  of  jealousy  in  the  breasts  of 
Jolm's  disciples  for  the  honor  of  their  particu- 
lar master. 

He  that  was  with  thee  beyond  Jordan  baptizetk^ 
and  all  men  come  unto,  him. 

This  jealousy  John  endeavors  to  remove,  by 
showing  abundantly  that  Jesus  was  to  be  by  far 
his  superior. — John  ill.  30.  He  must  increase^ 
hut  I  must  decrease. 

5.  The  baptism  by  Christ's  disciples  excited 
the  displeasure  of  the  Pharisees,  so  that  find- 
ing they  took  notice  of  it,  Jesus  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  avoid  a  tumult  by  retiring  from  Judea 
to  Galilee. 

I  may  here  propose  the  following  Questions>^ 
1.  Was  the  Baptism  by  the  disciples  of  Je- 
sus, while  he  was  yet  with  them,  of  the  same 
tenor,  import,  and  design  with  John's  baptism? 
t-ins,  We  read,  Jesus  made  and  baptized  more 
disciples,  than  John  ;  ptit^rira^  ^eier,  made  schol- 
lar.s,  or  learners  ;  induced  persons  to  come  into 
his  school,  to  put  themselves  under  his  teach- 
ing, to  follow  him,  and  wait  upon  his  instruc- 
tions. •  These,  by  his  twelve  particular  disci- 
ples, called  also  apostles,  be  baptized  ;  applied 
to  them  a  sacramental  washing.  John  applied 
the  like  to  his  disciples,  which  was  called  a 
Baptism  of  repentance.  The  most  natural  inti- 
mation oi  the  circumstances,  taken  together, 
se6ms  to  be  this  ;  that  both  John  and  Jesus 
Christ  severally  applied  baptism  to  these,  who 


ESS  AT  ON  baptism;  Srf 

professedly  put  themsclveg  under  their  teach* 
ing  and  instruction ;  that  tills  baptism  signified  to 
them,  that  they  were  naturally  under  the  pollu- 
tion of  sin,  which  needed  to  be  washed  away  ; 
also,  that  it  was  a  token  or  witness  on  the  part 
of  these  several  teachers,  that  they  had  re- 
ceived those  baptized  by  them  under  their  care, 
guidance,  and  instruction ;  into  their  several 
schools,  in  which  w^ere  especially  taught  the 
great  doctrines  concerning  spiriiual  purification, 
or  the  remission  of  sins  ;  and  that  it  was  a  to- 
ken or  witness  on  the  part  of  such  disciples^ 
that  they  had  been  admitted  to  the  great  priv- 
ilege of  being  learners  under  such  holy  and 
heavenly  teachers. 

Between  the  baptism  of  John  and  of  Christ 
by  his  disciples  might  be  this  diirerence,that  the 
former  was  a  baptism  to  prepare  a  people  to 
receive  the  Messias  ;  the  latter  a  witness  that 
professedly  they  did  receive  him ;  the  former 
we  may  consider  as  a  preparation  for  the  gos- 
pel dispensation,  the  latter  as  a  transition  to  that 
dispensation ;  an  intermediate  passing  to  it  from 
the  Mosaic  dispensation. 

Ques.  2.  Did  those  baptised  by  John,  in  con- 
sequence of  that  baptism,  form  a  part  of  what 
might  be  properly  called  the  Church  under  the 
gospel  dispensation  ? 

Jlns.  I  rather  think  not :  1.  Because  our  Sa- 
viour himself  seems  to  assign  the  administra- 
tion of  John  to  the  old  testament  dispensation, 
as  before  observed,  when  he  says  of  John,  He 
that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven^  is  great- 
er than h'c%  2.  Because,  as  before  observed,  those 


S4  £S§AY   ON   BAPTISM* 

twelye  disciples,  mentioned  in  Acta  xix.  appeal^ 
according  to  the  most  natural  construction,  to 
have  been  baptized  again,  and  in  the  name  ot 
Christ,  after  having  been  baptized  by  John. 

Qnes.  3.  Did  those  baptized  by  the  disciples 
of  Christ  before    his  death  constitute  a  part  of' 
the  Church  under  the  gospel  dispensation  ? 

j^ns.  Respecting  this  1  feel  a  difficulty  how 
to  decide.  When  the  blessed  Savior  instituted 
the  holy  supper,  he  said  to  his  disciples,  that 
he  would  no  more  drink  of  that  fruit  of  th^ 
vine,  till  he  drank  it  new  with  them  in  his  Fa- 
thers kingdom.  Though  there  may  be  in  this, 
a  remote  reference  to  the  entertainment,  which 
he  would  give  them  next  in  the  world  of  glory  ; 
yet  the  more  immediate  reference  of  it  is,  I 
think,  to  the  setting  up  af  his  Father's  kingdoia 
in  a  peculiar  sense,  in  this  world,  after  his  res- 
urrection. If  this  be  the  case,  the  implication 
is,  that  those  baptized  by  the  disciples  of  Christ 
before  his  death,  did  not,  on  that  account  per- 
tain to  the  church  under  the  new  testament  or 
gospel  dispensation.  However,,  if  they  were 
baptized  upon  an  outward  manifestation  of  be- 
in«;  believers  in  Christ,  they  pertained  to  the 
visible  Church  of  God  in  a  large  and  general 
sense  of  the  term;  and  perhaps  in  the  most  ac- 
curate view  of  them,  they  may  be  considered 
as  belonging  to  the  church  of  God  in  its  transi- 
tion from  its  old  testament  to  its  new  testament 
form. 

MEDITATION. 

We  have  great  occasion  to  bless  and  praise 
the  living  God  for  the  gift  of  his  Son,  through 


eSSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  35 

wliGse  go^pe]  life  and  immortality  are  brought 
1o  light.  We  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that 
we  may  be  pardoned  tlirough  interest  in  his 
atoning  blood.  To  whatever  outward  rites  we 
submit,  without  interest  in  this,  evenr  personal 
interest  in  it  by  faith,  we  cannot  be  saved. 
But  surely  we  have  reason  to  rejoice  in  the 
goodness  of  God,  manifested  in  allowing  from 
time  to  time  outward  helps  for  the  encourage- 
ment and  strengthening  of  our  faith.  Among 
these  is  Baptism;  if  it  be  even  true,  that  this 
was  administred  by  John,  and  by  the  disciples 
of  Christ  before  his  death,  under  a  less  perfect 
form,  than  afterwards,  it  by  no  means  becomes 
tis  to  boast  over  them  ;  but  rather  to  bless  God 
that  they  were  indulged  with  so  great  a  privi- 
lege, as  they  were.  If  our  privileges  be  still 
greater,  let  us  remember  that  it  is  all  of  grace: 
and  further,  that  where  much  is  given,  much 
will  be  recjuired. 

VWVV^A/V 

CHAPTHR  V. 

OF  CHRISTIAN  BAPTISM, 

Ques.  1.  WHAT  are  we  to  understand  by 
Christian  Baptism  ? 

Ans.  In  general  terms  we  are  to  understand 
by  it  a  sacramental  application  of  water  to  a 
person  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Math,  xxviii.  19.  Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach 
all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  ot  th^  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Acts  X.  47.  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  that 
these  should  not  be  baptised,  who  have  receiv- 
ed the  Holy  Ghost  a*?  weilj  as  wc  ? 


3^  ESSAY    ON    BAPTIS:iI. 

HQuesL  2.  What  does  Christian  baptism  sig- 
nify ? 

^Ins.  According  to  the  most  natural  and 
plain  meaning  of  the  ordinance  it  signifies  the 
taking  away  of  sin  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 

Acts  xxii.  16.  And  now  why  tarriest  thou? 
Arise,  and  be  barptized,  and  icash  away  thy  sins. 
1.  John  i.  7.  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son, 
cleanse th  us  from  all  sin. 

The  outward  application  of  water  to  any 
part,  or  to  every  part  of  the  body,  does  not  liter- 
ally take  away  sin,  any  more  than  the  bread, 
which  Christ  gave  to  his  disciples  in  the  holy 
supper  was  literally  his  body.  But  while  we 
are  here  in  the  flesh,  we  need  visible,  sensible 
signs  to  recal  spiritual  ideas  to  our  notice,  and 
to  lead  our  minds  into  spiritual  views.  Let 
the  v/ater  of  baptism  represent  in  figure  the 
blood  of  Christ,  let  the  soul  of  man  be  repre- 
sented by  his  visible  part,  the  body  ;  then  let 
tile  water  of  baptism  be  applied  to  his  body, 
and  the  spiritual  im[ort  may  be  easily  seen,  as 
it  is  of  the  nature  of  w^ater  to  take  away  the 
filth  of  the  body,  so  it  is  of  the  nature  of  Christ's 
blood,  apv'lied  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  take  away 
tile  pollution  of  the  soul. 

Quest.  3.  Why  shou-ld  Christian  baptism  be 
called  a  Sacrament  ? 

Ans,  Because,  as  a  Sacrament  signifies  an 
oath,  or  a  solemn  cncragement  for  the  perform- 
ance of  a  thing;  so  baptism  implies  r;n  o  )liga- 
tion  on  the  part  oi  those,  who  receive  it,  to  be 
obedient  tc  'he  instructions  of  Ohrlst,  and  to  sub- 
mit to  the  way  of  salvation  revealed  in  him,  in 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISE.  37 

Tfhich  the  great  concern  Is,  the  application  wdf 
ills  blood  to  the  soul  to  take  away  sin.     Al^^O; 
baptism,  as  an  oath,  or  engagement  on  the  part- 
of  God,  implicy,    that    to  thof^e,   who  received- 
Christ,  and  hira  crucified,  by  faith,  the  full  par-ir 
don  of  sin,  and  eternal  salvation  will  be  granted^ 

Quest  4.  By  whom  should  baptism  be  admin- 
istered ? 

<^ns.  By  one,  who  is  ordained,  or  publicly 
and  solemnly  set  apart  for  the  particular  pur- 
pose of  preaching  the  gospel,  and  administering 
its  ordinances,  or  seals. 

Acts  xviii.  2,  3.  The  Hoi 3^  Ghost  said,  sepa- 
rate me  Barnabas  and  Saul,  for  the  work  where- 
unto  I  have  called  them.  And  when  they  had 
fasted  and  prayed,  and  laid  there  hands  on  them, 
they  sent  them  away. 

Titus  i,  5.  For  this  cause  \e{i  I  thee  in  Crete^ 
that  thou  shouldst — -ordain  elders  in  every  city, 
as  I  appointed  thee.  ^ 

2  Tim.  ii.  2.  The  things  that  thou  hast  heard 
of  me,  among  many  witnesses,  the  same  commit 
thou  to  faithful  men,  wlio  shall  be  able  to  teach 
others  also. 

From  these  and  similar  texts  it  may  be  in- 
ferred, that  the  ministers  of  Christ  were  to  de- 
scend in  regular  succession  from  i\iQ  apostles 
through  all  ages,  by  being  separated,  or  set 
apart,  and  ordained  for  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try ;  those  who  follow,  by  those  who  go  before ; 
and  the  administration  of  baptism,  as  well,  as  of 
the  Lord's  supper,  from  the  tenor  of  the  new 
testament,  from  the  nature  of  the  various  exam- 
ples, apnear^  to  pertain  to  the  ministrv. 
4  ' 


35  ESSAY   ON    EAPTisM, 

\  MEDITATION. ' 

.  Jesus,  Immanuel,  blessed  be  thj  name,  that 
tiiou  hast  appointed  for  thy  church  an  ordi- 
nance, in  which  the  washing  away  of  sin  by  thy 
precious  blood,  and  the  puttino-oif  of  the  old  man 
and  the  putting  on  of  the  new,  through  inter- 
est in  thy  death,  burial  and  resurrection  is  out- 
wardly and  visibly  represented  to  our  eyes,  to 
our  senses,  to  lead  cur  meditations  to  the  great 
spiritual  realities,  thus  outwardly  signified. 
When  we  behold  the  pure  water  of  the  ordi- 
nance applied  to  the  outward  person  of  any  of 
cur  fellow  creatures,  in  the  name  of  the  Father 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
let  this  be  our  thought ;  is  this  token  upon 
me?  Has  the  water  of  baptism  been  appli- 
ed to  me  ?  Has  the  blood  of  sprinkling  been 
applied  to  niy  soul  ?  Have  I  an  interest  in  that 
great  salvation;  which  the  Father  lias  devised 
in  his  inliniteiy  wise  counsel ;  which  thou,  O 
denr  Savior,  liast  purchased  at  the  price  of  thr 
blood,  at  the  price  of  an  immense  weight  ot 
sufterinov;  and  which  the  Holy  Spirit  applies  to 
the  soul  in  the  worl:  of  regeneration,  o'r  effectu- 
al calling  P.Happy,  liappy,  then  will  be  my  fu- 
ture lot,  for  in  such  case  eternal- redemption  u 
raade  sure  to  me.  as  bv  the  oath  of  Almicchtj 
GarL  '  '  ^     ^ 

But  if  I  rerr^aina  stranger  to  what  is  signified 
in  tin's  ordinarice,  will  it  not  testify  against  me 
at  the  bar  of  God,  and  be  a  swift  witness,  that 
i  hnr<?  slighted  precious  christian  privileges, 
niid  deserve  an  ap^ravated  condemnation?  O 
r-  /l.^'^on-  God,  lat  uio.  net  rest  '~t»p  hour  without 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM*!  39" 

evidence  that  my  lieart  is  sprinkled  from  an 
o'vil  conscience,  and  that  I  have  begun  a  new 
and  holy  lile. 

CHAPTER  Vr. 

OF  THE  DERIVATION  OF  B  vrXISIyl- 

Qucst.  1.  DOES  Christian  Baptism  conic  in 
the  room  of  circumcision? 

v2ns,  I  am  satisfied  it  does.  I  am  con^  inccd 
it  is  thus,  by  the  following-  reasons. 

1.  Because  tlie  two  ordinances  are  similar  in 
their  nature  and  import.  Circumcision  consist- 
ed in  the  cutting  off,  and  casting  aw^ay  of  the 
iiesh;  even  apart  of  the  member  employed  in 
generation,  which  is  the  outward  instrument  in 
the  conveyance  of  a  sinful  nature.  The  import 
of  this  casting  away  of  this- portion  of  liebh  is, 
apiitting  (iway  of  sin  ;  as  th^  apo5;lie  teaches  in 
Colos.  ii,  11.  Circumcised  with  ihc  circumcisian' 
made  without  hand^  in  putting  off  the  boihj  of  th 
sins  cf  the  flesh.  The  spiritual  circamcision  doe? 
put  away  sin,  absolutely ;  the  outward  circu^in- 
cision  puts  it  away  figuratively. — Baptism  is  an 
application  of  pure  water  to  liie  body,  or  to 
some  part  of  it;  and  the  first,  and  most  natural 
import  of  it  is^icashing  or  cleansing  ;  andir-  ~  *  -- 
Itual  it  signifies  the  washing  away  of  sin. 

Acts  xxii.  16.  Arise^ancl  bcfiriptized^ccndivash 
aivay  thy  sins.  The  outward  form  of  two  Lhings 
may  be  very  dilferent,  and  yet  one  come  in  the 
room  of  the  other  very  manifestly,  because  a- 
dapted  to  the  same  end.  and  calculated  to  pro- 
duce the  s&me  effect.     On  the  other  hand  the- 


4#  ESSAY  ON    BAPTIS5I>- 

ibrm  of  two  things  may  be  very  similar,  anfyet- 
These  ihincrs  have  no  relation  lo  each  other  in 
eilcct  or  desigii.  Thus  the  argument  that  bap- 
tism comes  instead  ot  circumcision,  because  its 
main  design  is  the  same,  is  tenfold  gre^iter,  than 
the  argument  against  it,  taken  from  the  dviTer- 
ence  of  its  outward  form. 

2,  Circumcision  was  a  token  of  that  gracious^ 
everlasting  covenant,  made  with  Abraham,  in- 
v/hicb.  in  case  of  true  faith  in  a  Messiah,  then 
to  come.  God  engages  to  be  a  God  to  Abraham, 
and  to  his  seed  after  him.  Baptisni  appears 
to  be  from  tiie  very  nature  of  it,  a  token  ol  that 
covenant  between  God  and  man,  in  which  God 
stands  engaged  to  be  a  God  in  a  pecuhar  sense 
to  all,  v/ho  look  in  true  faith  to  a  Messiah  al- 
ready come,  that  they  may  receive  remission  of 
sins  through  the  efficacy  of  his  blood.  This  is 
?i  reason  to  believe  that  baptism  comes  in  room 
«>f  circumcision. 

3.  Oar  carnal,  sinful  nature  so  operates  in 
every  ,part  and  member  of  our  visible  body,  in 
i\\Q  present  state,  that  it  is  called  a  body  ofsin.y 
and  a  body  of  death.  In  circumcision  the  part 
of  the  body  cut  oif  becomes  dead,  it  becomes  to 
the  subject  as  if  buried  out  of  sight ;  so  circum- 
cision signifies  the  putting  away  of  sin,  as  if  it 
were  a  body  dead  and  buried.  In  baptism 
there  is  a  representation  of  the  putting  away  of 
outward  filth  from  the  body,  the  puttins:  of  it 
out  of  sight,  as  if  buried  in  the  earth.  The  im- 
port in  a  spiritual  respect  is,  that  our  body  of 
sin  is  dead  and  buried,  and  so  put  away  out  of 
ear  sight,  throu£;h  iutercst  in  the  deatli  and  bu- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  41 

rial  of  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sin.  Here 
also  is  evidence  that  baptism  comes  in  the  room 
of  circumcision. 

4.  In  Col.  ii.  11,  12, — In  putting  off  the  body 
of  the  sins  of  the  flesh  by  the  circumcision  af 
Christy  buried  with  him  in  baptism.  Here  the 
expression  is  such,  as  indigates  that  the  spiritu- 
al baptism,  in  which  we  are  buried  with  Christ, 
is  the  same  thing,  as  the  spiritual  circiimcision 
mentioned  immediately  before,  and  called  the 
circumcision  of  Christ,  or  Christian  circumci- 
sion. If  then  the  spiritual  baptism  be  the 
same  as  the  spiritual  circumcision,  it  is  a  strong 
reason  that  the  outward  baptism  comes  in  the 
room  of  outward  circumcision. 

5.  Circumcision  was  a  seal  or  token  of  the 
covenant  made  with  Abraham  w^hich  God  ex- 
pressly calls  an  everlasting  covenant,  and  in 
w^iich  he  engages  to  be  a  God  to  him,  and  to 
his  seed  after  him.  The  covenant  betAveen 
God  and  believers  since  the  coming  of  Christ, 
is  from  the  very  nature  of  it,  manifestly  the 
same  covenant  renewed ;  and  an  agreement 
with  God's  usual  manner  of  proceeding  requires 
that  this  covenant  should  have  a  token -or  seal, 
and  if  it  have  a  token  orseal^this  must  be  bap- 
tism. Baptism  therefore  appears  to  come  m 
the  room  of  circumcision,  because  a  token  or 
seal  of  the  same  covenant. 

6.  The  Lord's  Day  evidently  comes  in  the 
room  of  the  Jewish  Sabbath,  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per in  the  room  of  the  Passover  ;  so  analogy,  or 
the  proportion,  the  agreement  of  one  thing  with 
another,  indicates  that  bapt'sm  comes  in  the 
room  of  circumc-sioa. 

4* 


42  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

For  these  reasons  my  mind  is  abundant! j 
satisfied  that  baptism  comes  in  the  room  of  cir^ 
CLimcision.  If  it  be  asked,  why  the  change  f 
It  may  be  repHed,  because  circumcision  was 
bloody  and  painful,  baptism  mild,  and  without 
blood.  Because  Christ  having  spilt  his  blood, 
there  is  reason  in  this  that  the  bloody  part  ot" 
all  ordinances  should  cease;  so  in  the  Lord's 
supper,  which  is  the  christian  passover  there  is 
now  no  shedding  of  blood. 

MEDITATION. 

O  my  soul,  hast  thou  not  reason  to  rejoice  in 
this,  that  though  the  types  and  shadows  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  as  they  represented  a  Savior 
to  come,  are  done  away,  having  received  their 
fulfilment  in  Christ,  when  he  came  ;  ^q^\  it  pleas* 
€s  God  to  continue  several  ordinances,  trans- 
mitted from  the  ancient  dispensation  into  the 
new,  in  a  more  mild  and  pleasant  form,  that  our 
faith  may  still  be  assisted  by  our  senses  ?  Cer- 
tainly for  this  there  is  reason  to  rejoice.  Lord, 
for  this  r  thank  thee  !  By  these  few,  simple  or- 
dinances, not  painful,  but  pleasant,  we  are  fre- 
quently reminded  of  the  great  and  precious 
things  of  salvation  through  a  crucified  Savior. 
Blessed  be  thy  name,  that  as  the  Jews,  thine 
ancient  people,  by  frequently  seeing  the  admin- 
istration of  circumcision  were  reminded  of  the 
necessity  of  putting  away  the  body  of  sin  through 
the  application  of  the  blood  of  Christ;  so  we, 
believers  of  latter  days,  by  frequently  seeing 
the  administration  of  baptism,  may  be  remind- - 
ed  in  like  manner  of  the  necessity  of  having  our 
iiBS  put  away  by  the  application  of  the  sama 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  4^' 

precious  blood  to  our  souls,  bj  the  Spirit  of 
God.  - 

CHAPTER  Vir, 

OF  THE  MODE  OF  BAPTISMT* 

t 

Quest.  IN  what  mode,  form  or  manner,  i^ 
Christian  baptism  to  be  administered  ? 

j2ns.  The  scriptures  do  not  appear  to  be  de- 
cisive respecting  the  mode.  The  original  word 
rendered,  baptize,  generally  signiiies  either  ia 
plunge,  or  to  ivash,  sometimes  to  sprinkle.  la- 
the prdinance  of  baptism  the  leading  idea,  is,  to 
wash.  The  mode  or  form  of  the  application  of 
the  water  in  this  ordinance  should  then  be  such, 
as  may  naturally  import  washing.  Acts  xxii,  16. 
^rise  arcd  be  baptized,  and  wash  away  thy  sins. 

Baptism  has  been  administered  in  the  church 
by  plunging  in  water,  by  sprinkling  water  upon 
the  face,  or  forehead,  by  pouring  water  on  the 
head,  and  by  applying  it  to  the  face  by  the 
hand  in  a  sign  of  washing  by  rubbing. 

If  it  be  by  plunging,  the  allusion  may  be  to 
the  dipping  of  a  thing  in  water  in  order  to 
wash  it 

If  it  be  by  sprinkling,  the  allusion  may  be 
to  the  sprinkling  of  water  upon  a  thing  to  pre- 
pare the  way  to  wash  it. 

If  it  be  by  pouring  water  upon  the  head,  the 
allusion  may  be  to  the  pouring  of  water  upon 
a  thing  in  order  to  wash  it. 

If  it  be  by  a  sign  of  washing,  by  rubbing 
w^ith  the  hand,  the  aOusion  may  be  to  the  ap- 
plication of  water  to  the  face,  or  other  part  of 
the  bodjn  with  the  hand,  in  this  motion,  in  or-. 
der  to  wash  it,  ■ 


^'  ESSAY    OX    BAPTISM 

In  either  of  these-  modes  the  essence  of  Bap- 
tism may  be  retained. 

We  may  now  attend  to  those  texts  of  scrip- 
ture, which  may  serve  to  throw  any  light  upon 
this  particular.  Matth.  iii.  5,  6.  Then  went 
cut  to  him,  (that  is  to  John)  Jerusalem,  and 
ail  Judea,  and  all  the  region  round  about  Jor- 
dan, and  were  baptized  of  him  in  (or  at)  Jor- 
dan, confessing  their  sins. 

Jordan  beino:  a  river  sufficient  to  admit  the 
plunging  of  persons  in  it,  this  circumstance  may 
carry  with  it  a  degree  of  probability  that  those, 
here  baptized  by  John,  were  plunged  in  their 
baptism.  Yet  this  is  not  certain,  for,  1.  The 
original  may  be  translated  at  Jordan,  consist- 
ently with  the  use  of  the  preposition  e/?,  (e'v)  in 
the  Greek  language,  so  the  persons  might  be 
a/,  or  beside  the  river,  and  be  baptized  bj 
sprinkling.  2.  Though  we  should  admit  in  Jor- 
dan to  be  the  more  natural  translation  of  thq 
place,  still  the  persons,  after  stepping  into  tho 
brink  of  the  river,  might  be  baptized  by  sprink- 
ling water  upon  the  face,  or  by  pouring  it 
upon  the  head. 

John  iii.  23.  John  also  v/as baptizing  mEnon^^ 
near  to  Salim,  because  there  was  much  water 
there  ;  and  they  came,  and  were  baptized. 

The  much  water,  here  mentioned,  may  seem 
at  first  YiesN  to  be  an  inducement  to  John  to 
baptize  here,^  that  he  might  have  a  supply  suf^ 
ficicnt  for  the  plunging  of  those  baptized  ;  and 
tiiis  is  a  circumstance  in  favor  of  plunging  as 
the  mode  of  John's  Baptism.  But  what  is 
here  rendered  muck  water,  is  in  the  orii^inal  pu- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTiSjr.  4^? 

^atapolla,  (y  ^aT«  rcXXa,)  literally,  many  water s^ 
and  may  signify  many  streams^  though  but  very. 
small.  Farther,  tlie  much  water  might  be  de- 
sirable for  the  convenience  of  the  multitudes- 
who  came  to  John,  though  it  were  not  requir- 
ed for  plunging. 

Hov/ever,  if  we  should  grant  that  John  did 
administer  baptism  in  the  mode  of  plunging,  it 
would  not  thence  be  certain  that  the  disciples 
of  Christ  did  not  administer  the  proper  Chris- 
tian baptism  in  a  diiferent  mode. 

In  the  mean  time,  if  it  were  evident  that 
John  baptized  by  plunging,  it  would  be  a  cir- 
cumstance favoring  the  idea  that  christian  bap-- 
tism  v/as  administered  the  same  way. 

Acts  viii.  38,  39.  And  they  went  down  into 
(or  unto)  the  water,  both  Philip  and  the  Eun- 
uch, and  he  baptized  him.  And  when  they 
were  come  up  out  of  (or  from)  the  water,  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  caught  away  Philip. 

According  to  the  original,  in  this  place,  it  is 
as  probable  that  Philip  and  the  Eunuch  went 
only  to  the  water's  edge^  as  that  they  even 
stepped  into  it.  If,  as  the  translation  imports, 
they  both  went  into  it,  still  the  water  of  bap- 
tism might  be  applied  by  sprinkling,  as  well  as 
by  dipping,  or  plunging. 

Rom.  vi.  4.  Therefore  we  are  buried  with 
him  by  baptism  into  death. — It  is  evident  that 
the  baptism  here  spoken  of  is  the  spiritual 
baptism;  and  that  the  import  is,  that  in  this 
spiritual  baptism  our  body  of  sin,  through  in- 
terest in  the  death  of  Christ,  is  destroyed,  or 
slain,  a^d  put  away,  as  if  buried  out  of  si^ht*^ 


4#  EiSSAY    ON    gAFliSM; 

But  if  we  consider  this  to  be  spoken  in  allusiort 
to  the  mode  of  baptiftm,  the  allusion  would  be 
natural,  if  plungii  g  were  the  mode.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  Colos.  ii.  12. — Buried  with  iii)}i 
in  baptism.  If  there  be  anv  thing  in  scripture, 
that  may  be  considered  as  a  strong  circumstance 
in  favor  of  plunging,  or  immersion,  as  the  mode 
of  baptism,  it  is  found,  I  think,  in  these  tw^d 
texts  ;  and  these  do  so  lar  favor  this  mode,  that 
we  need  not  hesitate  to  admit  immersion  to  be 
valid,  that  is,  good  and  sufficient  baptism.  Still 
I  fmd  nothing  so  coiiclusive  in  favor  of  immer- 
sion, as  w^arrants  me  to  insist  upon  it  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  other  modes,  or  to  excite  a  hesitation 
of  the  validity,  or  fitness  of  sprinkling  or  pour- 
ing, or  eyen  to  lead  my  mind  to  a  preference 
of  immersion. 

Acts  X.  47.  Can  any  Lian  forbid  water  that 
these  should  not  be  baptized,  who  have  receiv- 
ed the  Holy  Ghost  as  w^ell,  as  we  ? — Here  the 
mode  of  expression  rather  favors  tlie  following 
idea,  viz.  Can  any  man  forbid  water  to  hs 
brought  ;  Vvdiich  would  indicate  some  other 
mode-  rather  than  rJun<>-iiio',  but  the  place  is 
not  decisive  w^itn  respect  to  any  particular  mode. 

Arts  xvi.  33.  And  he  took  them  thb  same 
hour  cf  the  night,  and  Vv^ashed  their  stripes, 
a  ^)  w^as  baptized,  he  and  all  his,  straightway. 
The  circumstance  that  the  prison,  where  Paul 
and  Silas  were  confined,  was  in  a  chief  city  of 
Macedonia;  the  circumstance  that  the  jailor 
had  leceived  a  charge  to  keep  the  prisoners 
safely,  and  that  he  was  in  danger  of  losing  his 
life,  if  he  lost  them  ;  the  probability  that  ihcr* 


EbSAY    ON    BAPTISM,  4% 

«fcTere  watch-men  about  the  streets  of  the  citj, 
as  has  been  usual  in  all  ages  ;  and  the  circum- 
stance that  in  the  morning  Paul  and  Silas  would 
not  leave  the  prison,  till  the  magistrates  came, 
and  brought  them  out ;  these  circumstances  ta^ 
ken  together,  render  it  very  improbable  that 
Paul  or  Silas  went  out  the  prison-houso  to  bap« 
tize  the  houseliold  of  the  jailor.  The  appear- 
ance is,  that  the  baptism  yvus  administered  in 
the  outer  prison;  and  the  consequent  probabil- 
ity is,  that  it  was  administered  in  some  other 
mode,  rather  than  by  immersion,  or  plunging. 

Isaiah  lii.  15.  So  shall  he  sprinkle  .many  na- 
tions.  This  is   spoken  of  the  Messiah,  and 

means  that  he  sliould  apply  a  spiritual  baptism 
to  many  nations  ;  in  other  words,  that  by  his 
spirit  he  should  apply  his  blood  to  many  indi- 
viduals of  many  nations,  to  take  away  .heir 
sins.  If  we  consider  this  to  be  spoken  in  allu- 
sion t  •  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  allusion  would 
be  very  natural,  if  Fpnnkling  were  the  mode  ; 
and  to  administer  baplih^m  by  sprinkling  cer- 
tainly corresponds  well  with  this  figure,  repre- 
senting spiritual  baptism. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  that  in  Eze.  xxsvi. 
25.  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  clean.  There  is  an  allusion 
here,  without  doubt,  to  the  blood  of  Christ, 
which  is  called  in  scripture,  the  blood  ofsprinh- 
ling,  Heb.  xii.  24.— To  Jes'i=t  the  Mediator  of 
t\iQi  new  covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprink- 
ling, which  speaketh  better  things,  than  the 
blood  of  x\bel.  Here  is  the  Mediaio-r  of  thft 
mw  covenant,  and  ike  blood  of  spriti/ding  :HqW' 


^ 


ESSAY    OK    KA?TISai. 


-corresponderit  with  this,  is  the    new  covenaiii 
itself,  and  its  toksa  or  seal,  baptism,  especially 
^if  administered  b}^  sprinkling. 

Tlie  divers  washings,    mentioned  in  Hcb.  ix, 
iO.    Were   most  probably  some  of  them   per- 
formed by  sprinkling  ;  in  the  original   they  are 
X'^ixiprpoif  ^xTTTL.^u.'iXT,)  various  baptisms. 

When  i  seriously  consider  all  these  circum- 
stances, they  appear  so  to  favor  the  mode  of 
sprinkling,  for  the  administration  oi  Christian 
baptism,  that  I  find  no  hesitation  in  considering 
baptism  by  this  mode  to  be  valid,  or  good  and 
.suiiicient  ;  especially  seeing  that'  in  scripture, 
nothing  more  than  probable  inference  can  be 
brought  in  favor  of  immersion. 

Baptism  by  the  Holy  Ghost  is  expressed  in 
scripture  by  pouring,  or  shedding  forth. 

Acts  i.  5.  For  John  truly  baptized  with  wa- 
ter, but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  t;he  Holy 
Ghost  not  many  days  hence.  Acts  ii.  2-  But 
this  is  that,  which  was  spoken  by  the  prophet 
Joel,  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days, 
(saith  GoA)  I  will  pour  out  of  my  Spirit  upon 
all  flesh  ;  Ver.  33.  Having  received  of  the 
Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he 
hath  shed  forth  this,  v/hich  ye  now  see  and 
hear. 

The  pouring  out,  and  shedding  forth  of  the 
Spirit,  in  the  two  latter  texts,  is  evidently  the 
baptism  v/ith  the  Holy  Ghost,  promised  in  the 
ic\t  preceding  them. 

There  cannot  be,  perhaps,  a  more  apt,  and 
significant  outward  symbol  of  llie  baptism  bj 
'  \c  Holy  Ghost,  than  that  of  pouringwater  up- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  49 

on  the  head,  in  water  baptism.  So  it"  any  of 
the  dear  children  of  God  sec  fit  to  administer 
baptism,  or  to  receive  it  in  this  mode,I  cannot  find 
authority  in  the  holy  scriptures  to  divide  from 
them  on  this  account. 

Finally,  if  in  baptism  water  be  applied  to  the 
face  with  a  motion  of  the  hand,  in  an  outward 
sign  of  washing,  inasmuch  as  the  outward  bap- 
tism is  a  sacramental  washing,  I  have  no  fault 
to  find  with  this  mode. 

My  own  mind  inclines  rather  to  sprinkling 
for  the  mode  of  baptism  ;  but  where  it  might 
promote  greater  peace  and  satisfaction  in  the 
community,  I  should  have  no  material  objectioa 
to  practismg  in  either  of  the  other  modes. 
MEDITATION. 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul  that  the  service* 
of  the  ceremonial  law  have  ceased  ;  even  that 
yoke,  which,  though  necessary  till  the  coming 
of  Christ,  Vv^as  burdensome  to  those,  upon  whom 
it  rested.  Yet  we  have  reason  to  be  thankful 
that  while  here  in  the  body,  and  so  much  af- 
fected by  sensible  objects  as  we  are,  God  has 
been  pleased  to  retiiin  in  the  church  two  visi- 
ble tokens  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  Baptism, 
and  the  Lord^s  Supper  ;  the  former  to  lead  our 
thoughts,  when  we  see  it  administered,  to  that 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  which  must  by  the 
eternal  Spirit  be  applied  to  our  souls  to  take 
away  our  sins,  as  we  hope  ever  to  be  pardon- 
ed ;  and  the  latter  to  be  a  repeated  memorial 
of  the  sufferings  and  death  of  our  diving  Savior, 
^nd  a  token  of  our  spiritual  receiving  of  him  by 
faiih.  ^ 
5 


Od  ESSAY    0?r   BAPTISM. 

But  why,  blessed  God,  hast  th-ou  suflcred,  in 
thy  holy  providence,  the  ordinance  of  baptism 
for  many  ages  to  be  administered  and  received 
in  different  modes  ?  And  why  was  thy  holy  word 
so  written,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  that  so  many  thousands  of  thy  dear 
children  should  fmd  themselves  unable  to  de- 
cide with  respect  to  several  modes,  to  which 
the  preference  ought  to  be  given  ?  Lord,  thou 
knowcst  thine  own  designs  herein.  Thou  hast 
suffered  it  to  be  thus,  and  this  should  satisfy 
us.  But  may  we  not  farther  believe,  that  thou 
hast  done  it  in  part,  that  the  same  token  ex- 
hibited under  different  forms,  by  different  fami- 
lies of  thy  children.should  call  to  view  a  variety  of 
different,  yet  equally  important  ideas  concern- 
the  great  work  of  redemption  ?  May  it  not  be 
iin  part  also,  that  thy  dear  children  should  see 
the  need  of  mutual  forbearance,  and  have 
opportunity  for  its  exercise  ?  And,  finally,  may 
it  not  be  in  part  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  may 
be  more  studied,  and  examined,  than  they  would 
be,  if  every  thing  in  them  were  made  entirely 
plain  and  obvious  ?  Lord,  thy  will  be  done. 
While  for  myself  I  am  fully  persuaded  that 
the  quantity  of  water  used  in  the  ordinance  of 
baptism,  and  the  particular  mode  of  its  appli- 
cation are  not  material,  provided  the  mode  be 
some  natural  sign  of  the  application  of  w  ater 
for  cleansing ;  suffer  me  not  to  feel  hard 
and  uncharitable  towards  those,  who  appear  to 
be  thy  friends,  who  yet  believe  that  but  one 

t)articular  mode  of  baptism  is  lawful.     Let  not 
lim  that  eateth  judge  him  that  eateth  not,  for 
God  hath  received  him. 


tS9AY    ON    BAPTISM*  51 


wwv\^< 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OF  THE  SUBJECTS  OF  CHRISTIAN  BArTISM. 

Quest.  L  WHO  are  the  proper  subjects  of 
Christian  Baptism. 

Jlns.  Adult  believers,  who  have  not  been  bap- 
tized, and  those  of  their  households  under  their 
immediate  care  and  command. 

Quest,  2.  How  does  it  appear  that  adult  be- 
lievers are  proper  subjects  of  baptism  ? 

JJns,  It  appears  most  plainly  and  directly 
from  the  exhortation  of  the  apostles  on  the  d^y 
of  Pentocost,  wdien  the  multitude  of  adult  per- 
sons, to  whom  they  preached,  being  pricked  in 
the  heart,  and  inquiring,  what  shall  we  do  ? 
Peter  said,  Repent,  and  be  baptized,  every  one 
of  you,  ill  the  name  of  Jesus  Clirist,  for  the  re- 
mission  of  sins ;  Acts  ii.  28.  These  \vere  per- 
sons, who  had  not  received  christian  baptism  ; 
in  being  required  to  repent,  and  to  be  baptized 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  they  were  in 
effect  required  to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  ; 
and  in  ver.  41,  we  read,  Then  they  that  gladly 
received  his  word  were  baptized ;  in  gadly  re- 
ceiving the  word  was  here  included,  believing 
the  truth  contained  in  it.  These  being  bap- 
tized upon  the  ground  of  gladly  receiving 
the  word,  is  proof  that  adult  believers  are 
proper  subjects  of  baptism.  The  same  thing 
IS  made  very  evident  by  what  Philip  said  to  the 
Ethiopean  Eunuch,  Acts  viii.  36,  37.  See,  here 
is  water,  said  the  Eunuch,  what  doth  hinder 
me  to  be^ baptized?  If  thou  believest  with  all 


S2  •  iSSSAY    ON    BAPTISM, 

thy  heart,  thou  may  est,  said  Philip.  From 
these  and  other  passages  in  the  holy  scriptures 
it  is  abundantly  evident  that  adult  believers, 
who  have  not  been  baptized,  are  proper  sub- 
jects of  b  iptism. 

Ques,,  3.  Are  adults  to  be  baptized  upon 
no  other  condition  than  that  of  being  possessed 
ef  true  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  ? 

Ans»  True  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  is  that  which 
alone  entitles  them  in  the  sight  of  God  to  re- 
ceive baptism  in  their  own  behalf;  a  credible 
profession  of  faith  entiles  them  to  baptism  in 
the  viev/  of  the  church. 

By  adults^  properly  speaking,  is  to  be  under- 
stood those  who  have  closed  their  state  of  mi- 
nority :  they  have  come  (ad  ultimum)  to  the  last 
of  this  state;  they  have  ceased  to  be  under 
the  immediate  care  of  their  parents. 

Even  children,  who  have  not  been  baptized^ 
and  who  are  capable  of  understanding  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptitiin,  may  receive  it,  with  the  con- 
sent of  their  parents,  in  their  own  behalf,  upon  a 
credible  profession  of  faith  in  Christ ;  nor  are 
they  to  receive  it  in  their  own  behalf  on  any 
other  ground ;  the  Eunuch  applied  to  Philip 
for  baptism  in  his  own  behalf,  and  Philip  said. 
If  thou  belie  vest  with  all  thy  heart,  thou  may- 
est ;  the  Eunuch  said,  I  believe  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  Son  of  God  ;  upon  this  Philip  bap- 
tized him.  This  is  suitable  to  be  received  as 
an  example,  for  all,  who  apply  for  baptism  in 
their  own  behalf.  They  should  make  a  pro- 
fession of  faith  in  Christ  which  the  church 
judges  to  be  sincere.     The  nature  of  the  tiling 


ESfSAY    0.^    BAPTISM. 


53 


teaches  that  when  we  apply  for  such  a  chris- 
tian privilege,  as  the  token  or  seal  of  the  cove- 
nant of  grage,  we  should  do  it  in  a  professed 
subjection  to  that  covenant ;  the  transaction  is 
our  own,  and  there  ought  to  be  evidence  of 
godly  sincerity  in  it,  to  the  satisfaction  of  those, 
whose  part  it  is  to  administer  the  ordinance.  . 

MEDITATION 

For  one,  who  receives  baptism  upon  a  pro- 
fession of  faith  in  Christ. 

I  have  now  received  the  seal  of  the  cove* 
nant  of  grace;  the  water  of  baptism,  which 
is  a  symbol  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  has  been  ap- 
plied to  me.  What  does  it  import?  Certainly 
that  there  should  be  an  appiiv:ation  to  my  soui 
of  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  the 
blood  of  Christ,  to  take  away  my  sins,  not  in 
figure,  but  in  reality.  Have  I  faith  in  this  blood? 
Am  I  satisfied  that  the  Spirit  of  God  has  ap- 
plied it  to,my  soul  ?  Do  I  look  to  this  blood,  ao 
1  look  to  the  sufferings  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to 
make  a  satisfying  atonement  for  sin  ?  Do  I  sub- 
mit to  the  terms  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  look- 
ing for  salvation  for  the  sake  alone  of  the  obedi- 
ence and  death  of  Christ?  As  Christ  died,  and 
was  buried  for  sin,  am  I  through  interest  in  his 
death  become  dead  to  sin,  and  as  it  were  buri- 
ed  from  sin  ?  As  Christ  rose  from  the  dead  foi 
our  justification,  am  I  risen  to  newness  of  life 
and  new  obedience  ?  As  pure  water  has  been 
applied  "^o  my  body  in  baptism,  so,  has  my  heart 
been  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience  ?  Am  I 


54  ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM. 

now  conscious  to  myself,  that  it  is  my  desire,, 
that  I  may  henceforth  keep  myself  pure,  and 
that  I  may  maintain  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
towards  God,  and  towards  men? 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven  !  I  acknowl- 
edge thee  for  my  God  ;  I  am  thine  by  creation, 
I  trust  I  am  thine  by  adoption. 

O  eternal  Son  of  God,  Immanuel,  God  with 
us  !  I  receive  thee  to  be  my  only  Redeemer; 
thou  hast  paid  tby  life  as  the  price  of  my  ran- 
som; I  accept  the  offered  salvation.  O  holy 
Spirit,  I  take  thee  for  my  sanctifier,  my  com- 
forter ;  let  me  never  quench  thine  influence  by 
coldness,  nor  by  disobedience.— c/^me?u 


vvvvvvw 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OF  INFANT  OR  HOUSEHOLD  BAPTISM. 

Quest  WHAT  are  we  to  understand  by  in- 
fant, or  household  baptism  ?  ' 
•  Ans.  By  household  baptism  we  are  to  under- 
stand the  baptism  of  sucn  members  of  a  family, 
as  are  under  the  guardianship,  command  and 
controul,  or  disposal  of  the  single,  or  united  be- 
lieving head  of  such  family,  and  in  behalf  of 
this  head  of  the  family.  By  infant  baptism  we 
are  to  understand  the  baptism  of  those  chil- 
dren of  such  family,  who  are  in  a  state  of  in- 
fancy, and  in  behalf  of  their  natural  parents,  or 
parents  by  adoption. 

Quest,  2.    What  reason  have  we  to  believe 
that  such  are  proper  subjects  of  baptism  ? 

K-ins.  As  this  is  a  point  of  laic  much  contro- 


ESSAY   ON   BAPTISM.  55 

yerted,  and  as  many  deny  that  such  are  prop- 
er subjects  of  baptism,  it  becomes  us  to  answer 
the  question  with  seriousness,  with  tenderness, 
and  with  circumspection. 

It  is  granted  that  in  respect  to  infant,  or 
household  baptism,  there  may  be  difficulties 
not  easy  for  every  one  to  resolve,  as  also  in 
the  case  of  the  observance  of  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  as  the  christian  sabbath.  If  upon 
a  fair  statement  the  objections  to  infant  bap- 
tism do,  in  our  minds,  surmount  and  overpower 
the  arguments  in  favor  of  it,  then,  to  act  con- 
scientiously, we  must  omit  it ;  if  the  arguments 
for  it  overpower  the  objections,  then,  to  act 
conscientiously,  we  must  receive  it. 

Let  us  consider  the  objections. 

1.  There  is  no  positive  command  for  infant 
baptism, 

Ans,  Though  a  thing  be  not  commanded  in 
express  terms  in  the  holy  scriptures,  yet  if  we 
can  find  an  example  of  it,  so  set  forth,  as  to  im- 
ply that  the  thing  is  to  be  continued  in  the 
church,  we  are  bound  to  observe  it. 

2.  There  is  no  evident  example  of  infant  hap* 
tism  in  scripture, 

Ans.  This  in  some  sense  may  be  granted ; 
but  there  is  example  of  the  baptism  of  house- 
holds, as  in  the  case  of  Lydia,  and  the  Jailor, 
and  their  households,  Acts  xvi.  15,  33.  The 
greater  probability  in  both  these  cases,  if  we 
look  at  the  history  itself,  is,  that  the  members 
of  these  families  were  baptize  .  in  behalf  of 
their  belilving  heads.  But  even  if  there  be 
neither  positive  command   nor  evident  exam- 


56  ESSAY   ON   BAPTISM* 


I 


le  of  an  observance  in  scripture,  yet  if  it  may 
e  fairly  inferred  from  the   scriptures,  it  is  to 
be  received,  and  held  as  binding. 

3.  //  is  said,  He  that  believeth,  and  is  baptized 
shall  be  saved;  Mark  xvi.  16,  and  also,  Re- 
pent, and  be  baptized,  every  one  of  you  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins ;  Acts  ii,  38.  Ought  any  then  to 
be  baptized,  before  they  profess  to  believe  and  re- 
pent? 

Ans,  Both  these  texts  were  spoken  with  ref- 
erence to  unbaptized  adult  persons,  concerning 
whom  it  has  been  already  shown,  that  to  re- 
ceive baptism  on  their  own  behalf,  a  profession 
of  faith  is  requisite.  But  that  believing  and  re- 
penting are  necessary,  that  we  may  be  baptiz- 
ed on  our  own  behalf,  is  no  reason  against  the 
baptism  of  children  on  the  behalf  of  their  be- 
lieving parents.  Besides,  if  the  order  of  the 
words  is  to  be  regarded,  we  should  do  well  to 
consider  the  words  in  John  iii.  5.  Except  a 
man  be  horn  o{  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  To  be  born 
©f  water  has  allusion  Avithout  doubt,  to  the  out- 
ward baptism,  to  be  born  of  the  Spirit  signifies 
to  receive  the  inward  baptism,  here  the  out- 
ward, or  water  baptism,  is  set  first  ;  and  why 
may  not  this  order  of  the  Avords  allude  to  the- 
case  of  the  multitudes,  that  God  intended  should 
be  baptized  in  their  infancy,  or  minority,  in  be- 
half of  believing  parents  or  guardians  ?  Can  I 
insist  upon  the  order  of  the  words  as  important 
in  the  one  place,  and  refuse  to  regard  it  in  the 
other  ? 


ESSAY    Olf    BAPTISM.  57 

i.  It  appears  in  Acts  xv  .*  That  cert  am  men 
from  Judea  taught  the  brethren  at  Antwch,  that 
except  they  were  circumcised  aftvr  the  manner 
of  Moses,  and  kept  the  laiv,  they  could  not  be  sa- 
ved; buty  after  much  disputing  it  was  decreed, 
that  those,  who  from  among  the  Gentiles  were 
turned  unto  God,  should  abstain  from  all  pollution 
of  idols,  and  from  fornication,  and  from  things 
strangled,  and  from  blood ;  but  that  no  other  bur- 
den should  be  put  upon  them,  JVould  it  nQthave 
satisfied  these  Jews  at  once  to  have  been  told  that 
baptism  came  in  the  rooin  of  circumcision,  and 
that  their  childre?!  might  be  b  fptized,  instead  of 
being  circumcised  ?  But  as  nothing  is  here  said 
of  infant  baptism^  is  it  not  evident  that  the  apostles 
knew  of  no  such  thing  ? 

Jlns,  I  acknowledge  thtit  it  mi^ht  be  verj 
natural  at  f^rst  view  to  expect  that  something 
should  be  said,  in  this  place,  concerniDg  infant 
baptism ;  and  why  nothing  more  particular  is 
?5aid,  either  of  this,  '^.r  of  the  christian  sabbath, 
or  Lord's  Day,  in  the  scriptures,  may  excite  a 
measure  of  difficulty  in  our  minds.  Bufit  may 
relieve  the  difficulty  in  triis  case,  to  consider 
that  it  was  not  merely  circumcision  for  which 
the  Jews  contended,  hut  also,  the  observance 
of  all  the  rights  of  the  ceremonial  law,  as  ap- 
pears from  Acts  xxi.  Nor  did  they  contend 
simply  for  the  observance  of  these,  but  for  the 
observance  of  them,  as  necessary  to  salvation; 
against  this  idea  the  apostle  Paul  is  repeated- 
ly and  justly  severe.  We  have  much  reason 
therefore,  to  think,  that  merely  to  have  stated 
that  baptism  came  in  the  room  of  circumcision^ 
while   tHe  observance  of  the  ceremonial  law 


58  essaV  on  baptism^ 

was  excluded,  and  even  baptism  not  admitted 
to  be  a  saving  ordinance,  would  not  have  at  all 
satisfied  these  Jews,  or^udaizing  teachers.*  If 
it  would  not,  the  Holy  Ghost  must  have  fore- 
seen this,  and  that  of  consequence  it  would  be 
of  no  avail  in  settling  the  dispute,  to  urge  that 
baptism  came  in  the  room  of  circumcision,  or 
to  say  any  thing  about  baptism  in  this  place. 

One  reason  why  so  little  is  said  concerning 
infant  baptism,  and  concerning  the  keeping  of 
the  first  day  of  the  week  as  holy  time,  may  be 
this,  to  excite  christians  to  engage  in  a  mbre 
diligent  search  of  the  scriptures,  than  otherwise 
they  would ;  another  reason  may  be,  to  give 
room  for  mutual  forbearance. 

5.  If  baptism  tome  in  the  room  ofcircumcishn, 
so  that  infants  are  to  be  baptized^  and  the  Lord^s 
Supper  come  in  the  room  of  the  passover,  why- 
should  not  infants,  and  little  children  come  to  the 
Lord^s  table,  as  it  is  probable  from  Ecso*  xii  : 
that  all  the  members  of  the  families  of  the  Israel- 
ites eat  of  the  passover  ? 

Ans.  This  is  probably  as  great  an  objection,  as 
can  be  urged  against  infant  baptism,  as  coming 
in  the  room  of  infant  circumcision.  But  it  may 
relieve  our  minds  of  this  difficulty,  to  consider 
that  when  the  Israelites  came  out  of  Egypt, 
the  passover  was  incorporated  with  their  nec- 
essary daily  food,  during  the  continuance  of  that 
feast,  so  that  they  must  all  eat  of  it,  whether 
all  eat  in  faith,  or  not. 

In  partaking  of  the  passover,  however,  sac- 
ramentally,  there  appears  to  be  ground  to  ap- 
prehend, that  none  united,  or  were  required  to 
unite,  after  the  Israeliteg  were  settled  in  the 


K-fSAY    ©N   BAPTISM.  59 

land  of  Canaan,  but  such  as  could  do  it  under- 
Btandiiiglj,  and  bring  their  sacrifice  unto  the 
Lord. 

'     So  we  read  in  Exod.  xxiii.  14,  l/>.   Three  times 
shall  thou  keep  a  feast  unto  me  in  the  year  ;  thou 
shah  keep  the  feast  of  unleavened  breads  thou  shalt 
eat  unleavened  bread  seven  days,  as  I  commanded 
thee,  in  the  time  appointed  of  the  month  Abib  ;  for 
in  it  thou  camest  out  of  hgxjpt ;  and  none  shall 
appear  before  me  empty.       This  was  manifestlj 
the  feast  of  the  passover,  and  as  those,  upon 
whom  it  is  here  enjoined,  are  forbidden  to  ap- 
pear before  God  empty,  there  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  special  obligation  to  partake  of 
it  extended  only  to    those,  who  were  capable 
of  covenanting  with  God  personally  by  sacri- 
fice.     In  Luke  ii.  42,  we   read  that  when  he 
(Jesus)  was    twelve  years  old,  they,  (his  par- 
ents) went  up  to  Jerusalem,  after  the  custom  of 
the  feast  ;    from  the  verse  preceding  it  appears 
that  his  parents  went  up  every  year,  and  that 
this  was  the  feast  of  the  passover ;  and  from 
the  verse  following  it  appear^  that  at  this  time 
Jesus  went  up  with  them.      The  probable  im- 
port of  this  history  is,  that  now  Jesus  for  the 
first  time  went  to  this   feast,  and  now   he  was 
able  to  understand  the  import  of  the  passover, 
and  to  transact  personally  with  God.*  In  1  Cor. 
xi.  28,   The  apostle  says,     Let  a  man  examine 
himself  and  so    let  him  eat  of  that  breads  and 
drink  of  that  cup.       This   intimates  tliat  in  the 
partaker  at  this  ordinance  there  should  be  faith. 

*  Ilyrcanus  in  Josephus,  b.  xii.  chap.  4,  says,  The  Jewish  law- 
forbids  the  son  to  eat  of  the  sacrifices,  before  he  has  cooie  to  tkc  tcaai- 
ple,  tmd  tiere  hiaiaelf  preeentcd  an  offering  to  God. 


^0  ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM. 

The  objections  above  stated,  and  answered, 
are  all,  1  think,  of  material  weight  that  can  be 

urged  agrvinst  infant  baptism, 

MEDITATION. 

Now,  O  my  soul,  do  these  objections  appear 
sufficient  to  authorize  us  to  lay  aside,  or  to  o- 
mit  infant  baptism  ?  If,  notwithstanding  the  an- 
swers proposed,  they  do  appear  sufficient,  then 
I  ought,  while  they  so  appear,  to  lay  aside  this 
docti'ine  ;  but  if  they  do  not  so  appear,  then  I 
ouglit  to  practise  according  to  this  doctrine. 
Now  with  my  hand  upon  my  breast,  in  token  of 
sincerity,  I  can  say,  before  thee,  O  thou  heart 
searching  God,  that  these  objections  do  not  ap 
pear  in  my  view  sufficient  to  authorize  me  to 
lay  aside  this  doctrine.  Although  the  above 
objections,  when  first  urged,  may  have  excited 
a  temporary  difficulty  in  my  mind,  yet,  when 
thej  have  been  seriously  weighed,  their  dif- 
ficulty has  so  far  vanished,  that  much  the 
greater  weight  of  evidence,  in  my  own  view, 
has  been  in  favor  of  infant  and  household  bap- 
tism. Acpordiiig  to  this,  therefore,  I  practise : 
and  I  feel  an  unfeigned,  and  solemn,  and  1  trust 
a  holy  satisfaction  in  the  administration  of  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  to  the  infants,  and  to  the 
households  of  believers,  in  behalf  of  the  believ- 
ing parents  and  heads  of  families,  who  present 
them.  I  feel  that  if  I  must  renounce  this  doc- 
trine and  practice  for  want  of  express  command, 
or  plain,  evident  example,  then  for  want  of  the 
same,  I  must  must  renounce  the  observance  the 
first  day  of  the  week  as  holy  time  ;  seeing  the 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTlife.  61 

fvidencc  to  warrant  us  so  to  observe  it  is  onlj 
that  of  i'litimation,  or  inference.  But  are  we 
not  bound,  O  heavenly  Fnthei'  to  obey  the  inti- 
mations of  thy  wilj,  as  well  as  what  is  express- 
ly commanded  ?  surely  we  are.  Still  we  may 
.have  a  better  hope  of  those,  as  thy  children, 
■who  omit  duty  where  the  light  is  comparative- 
ly small,  than  of  those,  who  omit  what  is  more 
plain  and  explicit.  I  can  entertain  a  belief  of 
piety  in  those,  who  omit  the  baptism  of  infants 
and  households  much  more  easily,  than  of  piety 
in  many  others,  who  pass  under  the  christian 
name.  Lord,  hasten  the  time,  when  lliy  chil- 
dren-shall  see  eye  to  eye  in  the   truth. 


-WN,-^  VVX'^ 


CHAPTER  X. 

liRGUMENTS  IN  FAVOR  OF  INFANT  AND  HOUSEHOLD 
BAPTISM. 

1.  THE  covenant  made  with  Abraliam  in 
Genesis  xvii.  7,  must  be  the  covenant  of  Grace, 
which,  ihouo-h  renewed,  and  called  a  new  cove- 
nant under  the  gospel  dispensation,  is  still  con- 
tinued, so  that  the  christian  church  is  constitut- 
ed under  it. 

But  the  token  of  this  covenant,  made  with 
Abraham,  was  solemnly  enjoined  to  be  put  up- 
on the  infants  and  households  of  covenanting 
persons.  ' 

Therefore  baptism,  wdiicli  is  now  the  token 
of  the  same  covenant,  is  to  be  applied  to  the 
infants  and  households  of  coverianting  persons. 

2.  Baptism,  as  has  been  shown,  comer;  in  the 
room  of  circumcision,  (see  derivation  of  baptii^mj 
Chap.  6^  :     ., 


62  e5Say  on  baptism. 

But  circumcision,  by  divine  command,  was 
applied  to  infants  and  households^ 

Therefore  baptism  should  be  so  applied  un- 
less there  be  evidence  that  God  has  restricted 
the  application  of  it;  but ^i  find  no  evidence, 
that  he  has  thus  restricted  it ;  therefore  I  con- 
clude that  the  infants  and  houseliolds  of  cove- 
nanting believers  are  to  be  baptized. 

3.  We  are  taught  in  the  word  of  God 
that  the  privileges  of  believers  under  the  gos- 
pel dispensation  are  enlarged,  instead  of  being 
abridged  ;  as  in  Heb.  xi.  40,  God  having  pro- 
vided some  better  thing  for  us,  that  they  with- 
out us  should  not  be  made  perfect. 

But  believers  under  the  old  testament  dispen- 
sation, were  entitled  to  circumcision  for  their  in- 
fants and  households. 

Therefore,  believers  under  the  gospel  dis- 
pensation, are  entitled  to  baptism  for  their  in- 
fants and  households. 

4.  When  the  Israelites  were  baptized  unto 
Moses  in  the  cloud  and  in  the  sea,  tlieir  infants 
and  households  were  baptized  with  them;  but 
in  this  they  Avere  ensamples  for  believers  under 
the  gospel;  1  Corin.  x.  1,  2,  6, 11.  Therefore 
the  infants  and  households  of  believers  under 
the  gospel  dispensation  should  be  baptized  unto 
Christ. 

5.  The  temporal  thing  signified  in  the  cir- 
cumcif>ion  c>f  children  was,  that  they  might  in- 
herit the  land  of  Canaan ;  the  spiritual,  and  far 
inore  important  thing  signified  was,  that  they 
might  have  the  Lord  for  their  portion,  and  in- 
herii   hrrcatter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  but 


ESSAY   ON   BAPTISM,  63 

Christ  says  of  little  children  and  infants  iindu. 
the  gospel ;  Suifer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  God  ;  Luke  xviii.  10.  This  is  a  reason 
that  they  should  be  baptized,  to  signify  that 
the  blood  of  Christ  may  be  applied  to  them,  to 
take  away  sin,  and  prepare  them  for  heaven. 

6.  The*^  expression^  Jdrigdom  rf  Cod^  is  often 
used  by  our  Savior,  in  the  new  testament,  to 
signify  the  gospel  church  staie,  as  it  appears  visi- 
ble in  this  world  ;  and  seeing  he  requires  that 
infants  and  little  children  should  be  openly  and 
visibly  brought  to  him,  because  they  belong  to 
the  kingdom  of  God,  we  have  reason  to  consid- 
er this  as  signifying  that  they  may  have  a  cove- 
nant relation  to  his  visible  church,  and  so  be 
entitled  to  baptism,  as  the  token  of  the  cove- 
nant of  grace. 

7.  In  John  iii.  5,  Jesus  says.  Except  a  man  be 
born  of  water  and  cfthe  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  in- 
to the  kingdom  of  God,  Here  being  born  of  \va- 
ter  alludes  to  water  baptism;  but  it  is  set  be- 
fore being  born  of  the  Spirit ;  does  not  this  as 
much  imply  that  the  infants  of  believers  should 
be  baptized,  though  not  yet  the  subjects  of  a 
change  of  heart ;  as  the  words  of  Peter  in  Acts 
ii.  38.  Repent  and  be  baptized,  every  one  of 
you,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  imply  that  adult 
persons,  who  have  not  been  baptized,  should 
manifest  repentance  before  baptism  ?  So  fa^'  ^^ 
the  order  of  the  words  is  to  be  looked  at, 
think  it  does. 

8.  The  baptism  of  the  household  of  Lydia  is 
a  probable  example  of  proper  household  ba}>- 


64  ESSAY    ON    BArri3I\L 

tism.  Acts  xyi.  14,  15.  Whose  heart  the  Lord 
opened,  that  she  attended  unto  the  things  that 
were  spoken  of  Paul;  and  when  she  wa^  baptized, 
and  her  hoiisehoid,  she  besought  us,  saying.  If 
ye  have'judged  me  to  be  faithful  to  the  Lord, 
come,  and  abide  at  my  house.  If  her  household 
had  manifested  faith,  how  natural  to  have  said« 
If  ye  liavc  judged  me  and  mine  to  be  faithful, 
come,  and  abide  with  us.  The  heart  of  Lydia 
alone  is  noticed,  as  opened  by  the  Lord,  but  if 
Iier  household  had  experienced  the  same,  it  is 
natural  to  expect  that  this,  w^ould  have  been  no- 
ticed also.  But,  as  she  says,  If  ye  have  judged 
me  to  he  faithful  to  the  Lord,  come,  and  abide 
at  mv  lioiise,  the  moct  natural  and  obvious  ap- 
pearance is^  that  her  houseliold  was  baptized 
on  the  ground  of  her  faith. 

9.  In  the  bantism  of  the  jailor  and  all  his,  of 
which  we  have  an  account  in  x^icts  xvi.  33,  34/ 
we  have  a  highly  probable,  if  not  evident  ex- 
ample of  proper  household  baptism.  He 
took  them,  (the  apostles)  the  same  hour  of  the 
night,  and  washed  their-  stripes,  and  was  bap- 
tized, he  and  all  his,  straightway  ;  and  when  he 
had  brought  them  into  his  house,  he  set  meat 
before  them,  ami  rejoiced,  believing  in  God  with 
all  his  house.  In  the  last  part  of  ver.  34,  the 
Greek  original,  with  the  English  answerable  to 
it,  runs  thus ;  r^yxWidtrxro,  lie  rejoiced,  irzyctx!?  with 
all  the  house,  z:c-n^fjrBv^clj<^,  he  hamivjp  belv4iied,  tJJ^sc^ 
in  God ;  from  this  it  appears  that  the  jailor  a- 
lone  is  specified  as  believing,  wdiich  rendeiy  it 
more  probable,  than  otherwise,  that  his  house- 
liold  was  ba;piy2ed  on  his  behalf. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  €5 

10.  In  1  Cor.  vii.  14,  the  apostle  says,  Ti.e 
unbelieving  husband  is  sanctified  by  the  wije,  and 
the  unbelieving  wife  is  sanctified  by  the  husband^ 
else  were  your  children  unclean ;  but  now  are  they 
holy.  To  explain  scripture  by  scripture,  in  il- 
lustration of  this  passage  we  may  consult  Ezra 
ix,  and  x.  There  we  are  informed  that  in 
consequence  of  the  Israelites  having  taken  for 
wives  the  daughters  of  the  Canaauites,  the  ho- 
ly seed  had  minded  themselves  with  the  peo- 
pie  of  those  lands.  For  this  cause  the  strange 
wives,  and  those  that  were  born  of  them  were 
required  to  be  put  avvay,  chap.  x.  3.  According 
to  this  the  Corinthians  might  suppose  that  the 
unbelieving  partners  should  be  put  away,  lest 
i\\e  children,  who  should  be  born  of  them,^ 
should  be  polluted,  as  under  the  Mosaic  dispen- 
sation. The  apostle  appears  to  teach  this,  that 
under  the  gospel  dispensation  a  milder  pro- 
ceeding should  take  place;  and  that  the  unbe- 
lieving partner  should  be  accounted  so  far  sanc- 
tified by  tlie  believing,  as  to  authorise,  in  a  re- 
ligious view,  their  continuance  together;  that 
if  this  were  not  the  case,  their  cliildren  must 
indeed  be,  in  a  covenant  respect,  polluted;  in- 
stead of  which  they  Avere  nov/to  be  considered, 
in  a  covenant  respect,  holy.  Tliis  may  be  lur- 
ther  illustrated  by  Eze.  xvi,i20,  21.  Thou  hast 
taken  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters,  whom  thou 
hast  borne  unto  me,  and  these  hast  thou  sacri- 
ficed unto  them  to  be  devoured;  is  this  of  thy 
whoredoms  a  small  matter  that  thou  has  slain 
my  children?  From  all  this  it  appears,  that 
God  considers  the  children  of  parents  in  cove- 
6* 


56  ESSAY  ON    BAPTISM. 

nant  with  him,  as  his  children,  as  holy  w..i.  .. 
federal,  or  covenant  hoHness.  This  the  apostle 
teaches  to  be  the  case,  even  if  but  one  parent 
be  a  behever  ;  and  if  thus  holy,  then  it  follows, 
I  think,  that  they  are  proper  subjects  for  the 
^eal  of  the  covenant,  even  baptism. 

MEDITATION. 

Is  it  then  our  duty  and  our  privilege  to  bring 
our  children,  and  those  whom  we  have  taken 
Hnder  cur  special  care  and  instruction,  public- 
ly to  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  receive,  in  connexion 
w  ith  a  solemn  dedication,  the  seal  of  the  new 
covenant,  and  the  token  of  that  precious  blood, 
which  cleanseth  from  all  sin.^  Have  we  in  this 
a  precious  ground  of  encouragement  to  hope 
that  even  to  our  infants  and  little  ones  the  bene- 
fvis  of  the  covenant  of  grace  may  be  applied  for 
their  salvation?  Gathering  from  the  holy  scrip- 
tures that  it  is  the  mind  and  w^ill  of  God,  that 
the  token  of  the  everlasting  covenant  is  to  be 
applied  to  the  children  of  believers,  how  much 
may  this  add  to  our  comfort,  to  our  peace. and 
consolation,  when  Vve  are  called  to  resign  our 
little  ones  from  our  bosoms  to  the  cold  hand  of 
death!  Especially  this  may  be  a  source  of  en- 
larged consolation,  if  we  are  conscious  that  w<^ 
liaye  been  enabled  by  faith  to  look  to  the 
blood  of  Christ  in  behalf  of  our  children,  and  in 
their  behalf  also  to  take  hold  of  covenant  bles- 
sings. While  we  that  arc  parents  know  that 
we  have  been  instrumental  in  conveying  a  cor- 
rupt, sinful  nature    to  cur  childrcDj  Q.nd  while 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  67 

we  know  that  they  are  by  nature  children  of 
wrath,  and  cannot  be  saved,  except  the  blood 
of  Christ  be  apphed  to  their  immortal  souls  by 
the  Holy  Spirit,  how  precious  it  is  to  know  that 
the  token  of  this  blood,  and  of  the  everlasting 
covenant  was  enjoined  to  be  put  even  upon  in- 
fants, when  the  covenant  was  made  explicitly 
with  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful !  How 
precious  also  to  know  that  the  dear  Savior  has 
said  of  little  children,  of  infants,  that  of  such  is 
the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  how  precious  to  be- 
lieve, that  such  are  still  to  receive  the  token  of 
the  everlasting  covenant,  while  presented  by 
believing  parents!.  Where  do  we  find  the  com- 
mand, instruction,  or  even  intimation,  to  cut  off, 
and  exclude  the  children  of  professed  believers 
from  a  covenant  privilege,  indulged  them  1900 
years  in  the  family  and  race  of  Abraham?  We 
find  no  such  instruction,  no  such  intimation ;  it 
is  true  we  find  severe  reproof  of  the  abuse  of 
this  privilege,  by  putting  it  instead  of  Christ, 
and  we  find  a  change  in  the  form,  of  the  token 
of  the  covenant ;  but  no  where  do  we  find  an 
intimation  that  this  token  is  to  be  restricted  in 
the  application  of  it,  so  as  to  exclude  the  house- 
holds of  believers. 

How  comfortable  it  is,  when  the  pure  water- 
is  applied  to  our  little  child,  or  infant,  to  be- 
lieve that  a  goodly  number  of  saints  are  excit- 
ed to  pray  for  it,  that  the  great  thing  signified 
may  be  effectually  applied  by  the  Holy  Spirit ! 
But  having  gone  so  far  as  to  devote  our  children 
in  baptism,  let  us  not  stop  here  ;  having  enter- 
ed them  lopenly  into  the  school  of  Christ,  we 


68  ESSAY  ON  BArnsM. 

must  consider  that  our  work  is  but  now  bcgim ; 
may  God  help  us  to  train  them  for  himself,  to 
pray  for  them  daily,  to  correct  tlieir  folly,  and 
to  endeavor  to  fill  their  expanding  minds  with 
the  seeds  of  spiritual  knowledge.  vSo  doing, 
we  will  hope  through  grace  to  meet  them  here- 
after in  glory. 


INFANT  DEDICATION. 

Pgal.  1ST,  3.        Little  babe,  I  now  receive  thee 

From  thy  Maker's  bounteous  hanr],' 

Prov.  20,  7.  With  his  precious  i^raee  I  leave  ihesj 

May'st  thou  in  his  favor  stand. 

Clen.  S3,  13.  Weak  and  helpless,  young  and  tenderf 

1  Chr.  22,  5,        7'hoiiTt  eommiUed  to  my  care  ; 
Prov.  4,  S.  W^hile  my  tJiaisks  to  God  i  rendePp 

Thou  a  parent's  loye  shait  share. 

Psal.  5t,  5  Born  in  sin,  in  sin  corceived, 

1  Fet.  5,  8.  Satan  wmihl  destroy  thy  soul; 

But  by  this  my  fear's  relieved, 
Luke  li,  22,        Grace  can  Satan's  wiles  control. 

Psal.  110,  3  God's  free  spirit  in  a  twinkling 

Can  display  resistless  power, 
Heb.  12,  24'.  Can  apply  the  bh)od  of  sprinkling, 

4  Pet.  1^2.  And  thy  ruin'd  state  vesto^e. 

Thee  a  gracious  God  has  lent  me, 
For  thy  precious  soul  1  ft^el : 

Lnke  2,  22  Back  to  God  1  now  present  thee, 

Kom.  4,  11.  Tq  receive  a  holy  seal. 

Tliis  shall  seal  the  covenant  to  me 
InMhichGod  lias  t!»us  ai^rved, 
®eT3.  17  ,7. 10.    *'  I  will  be  a  Go*!  h.jth  to  thee, 
*»  And  a  God  unto  thy  seed. 


ESSAY    ON    EAFTlSIVr.     '  6!) 

Now  the  holypcal  expressing 
What  the  blood  of  Christ  has  done, 
Acts  22,  16.       1  commend  thee  to  the  blessing 
Acts  2f  23.        Oi'the  Sacred  Three  ia  One. 

Gen.  17,  1.  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 

18,  19.  Ifilruly  iaithful  be, 

22y  17.  Stand  engag'd,  lliro'  Jesus*  merit, 

Isa,  41,  3.  To  bestow  free  grace  on  thee. 

Eze.  16,20,21.  Blessed  covenant,  what  extension  \ 

2o,  37.  Grace  abounding  over  sin  ! 
Acts  2,  39.      O  the  glorious  caudeseensvin, 
Mark  ]0,  14.  Thus  to  take  cirr  infants  in  ! 

Acts  16, 15.33. Still  no  cause  we  £nd  to  serer 

Children  from  their  parents  dear  5 
2,  39.  Both  united  still  together 
Psal  3^.  ^.  In  the  gracious  promise  share. 

Gen.  17,  11»    Of  God's  covenant,  as  the  tolien, 
Abr'ams'  sons  w^re  circumeis'd ; 
7.    If  ihf  covenant  be  mii  oroken. 
14.    Infants  now  ma}'  be  baptizM. 

Rom,ll,l6j25.  Twas  tlie  olive  once  did  nourish 
JhwS:  rejected  now  f jr  sin  ; 
Un  tlie  same  the  Genti'es  ilourishj 
Now  tbro'  faiih  ingrafted  in. 

Luke  18,  15.  If  believers  for  their  ofFspriag 

16.    Then  Ivui  hraveidy  blessings  sealMj 
True  btlfevers  are  in  nothing 
From  such  blessings  now  withheld. 

Rom.  11,  17.  Jews  the  olive's  sap  and  sweetness 
Did  enjiy  f<»r  Joshs'  sake, 
Of  its  precious  root  and  fatness 
Holy  Gentiles  still  partake. 

1  Cor.  7, 14.   Childr'n  still  are  holy  named 
From  th;^  j)arent,  wlu)  believes; 
S«ire!y  then  we  must  be  blamed^ 

Mat!«i.  !•,  14.  If  ye  slight,  when  Christ  receives* 


7^  BS3AY   ON    BAPTISM. 

Gen.  17,  11.  Hearing  what  (Le  word  has  (old  inc., 

with  Precious  babe,  a  call  I  Und 

Acts  2,  39.  In  the  arms  of  faith  to  h»id  thee, 

Kom.  H,  17.  To  leeeive  the  seal  design'd. 

Eph.  G,  ^.        O  for  grace  to  make  me  carefal, 
All  my  dtity  to  discharge  : 
Iiumble  1  shall  be,  and  prayerfu!^ 

Psal.  119,  32.  Ifthe  Loid  my  heart  enlarge. 

Beut.  6,  7.       Daily  I  would  be  instilling 

5,  29.     Heavenly  truths  into  thy  mind; 
Ecele.  11,  0.    If  a  gracious  God  be  wilJing 

These  t!iy  heart  at  length  shall  find* 

Prov.  19,  18.  Sharp  correction,  if  required, 
^2,  15.  For  thy  failings  thou  must  feel^ 
53,  13,  14.  To  promote  the  end  desired, 
.29,  17.  And  preserve  thy  soul  from  hell. 

Still  with  God*s  free  grace  I  leave  thee, 
When  my  duty  all  is  dtme ; 
l^ph.  2f  8,  0.  His  free  grace  alone  must  save  thee, 
For  the  sake  of  Christ,  his  Son. 


A  sketch  of  the  history  of  infant  and  house- 
hold baptism. 

1.  Before  the  coming  of  Christ  it  appears 
that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to  baptize 
the  httle  children  and  infants  of  those,  who 
were  made  proselytes  to  the  Jewish  religion, 
together  with  their  parents,  as  well,  as  to  cir- 
cumcise their  males. 

This  being  the  fact,  when  the  circumcision 
of  the  children  of  Gentile  converts  was  omitted, 
there  is  not  much  reason  to  wonder  that  Jew- 
ish believers  were  displeased,  as  we  find  some 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  7i 

of  thorn  were.  If  at  the  same  tmie  the  hap- 
tisin  of  the  children  of  Gentile  converts  had 
been  omitted,  we  should  have  probably  heard 
a  grefit  complaint  on  that  account;  but  we 
hear  no  such  complaint;  whence  it  is  probable 
that  it  was  not  omitted. 

Concerning  the  custom  above  mentioned  see 
the  following  extracts  from  the  ancient  writings 
of  the  Jews. 

"  If  an  Israelite  take  a  Gentile  child,  or  find 
a  Gentile  infant,  and  baptize  him  in  the  name 
of  a  proselyte,  behold,  he  is  a  proselyte.*' 

MaimGnides, 

"  A  little  child,  who  is  a  proselyte,  is  baptiz- 
ed by  the  sentence  of  the  Sanhedrim.  If  his 
father  be  dead,  and  his  mother  lead  him,  that 
he  may  be  made  a  proselyte,  the  triumvirate 
[council  of  three  men]  become  to  him  in  this 
service  instead  of  a  father." 

Tabnud  of  Babylon, 

"  Any  male  child  of  a  proselyte  under  the 
age  of  13  years  and  a  day,  and  any  female  un- 
der the  age  of  12  years  and  a  day  was  baptiz- 
ed as  an  infant,  at  the  request,  aad  by  the  as- 
sent of  the  father,  or  the  auihoriiy  of  the  coun- 
cil." 7 a! mud  of  Babylon. 

2.  After  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  after  the 
times  of  the  apostles  we  iind  nothino-  said  very 
particularly  concerning  infant  or  house'iold  bap- 
tism,  till  sometime  in  the  second  Centu/y,  whea 
we  find  Jrenoeus  writing  thus  : 


T2    ,  ESSAY    ON    baptism" 

^*  Magister  ergo  exisfens,  Magislri  (/uorjue  hU'^ 
hehat  celatem.  ^r.  Therefore  being  himself  a 
master,  he  had  also  the  age  of  a  master,  not 
disdainirg,  nor  going  in  a  waj  above  human  na- 
ture, nor  breJiking  in  his  own  person  the  law, 
which  he  had  set  for  mankind,  but  sanctifying 
every  age  by  the  likeness  wdiich  it  had  to  him- 
self;  all  I  say,  f  Qui  per  eum.  renasciriilur  in  De- 
um^J  ivho  by  him  are  regenerated  (that  is,  baptiz- 
ed) unto  God  ;  infant?,  and  little  ones,  and  boys, 
and  young  men,  and  elder  person-j,"  <S:c.   , 

This  passage  favors  infant  baptism,  because 
among  the  primitive  fathers  the  term,  regenera- 
tion^ was  commonly  used  for  w^ater  baptism,  as 
well,  as  for  a  change  of  heart  by  the  operation 
o-f  the  holy  spirit ;  for  they  understood  water 
baptism  by  the  words  of  Christ,  Exeept  a  man 
he  horn  of  water — he  cannot  enter  into  the  king- 
doni  of  God.  That  which  renders  it  probnble 
that  trenseus  her«  uses  the  term,  regenerated,  for 
baptized,  is,  that  in  most,  if  not  all  otlier  places 
in  this  same  book  he  uses  this  term  evidently 
to  signify  baptism. 

irena3as  against  hceresies  b.  2.  ch.  bd* 

A.  D.  about  ^00. 
Tertullian  writes,  '•  According  to  every  one's 
condition  d.nd  disposition,  and  also  their  age,  the 
delaying  of  baptism  is  more  profitable,  especial- 
ly in  the  case  of  lit'le  children  ;  for  what  need 
is  there,  that  the  Sponsors,  [those  who  promise 
for  thern,  to  oversee  their  christian  education] 
should  be  brought  into  danger?  Because  they 
may  either  fail  of  their  promise  by  death,  cr 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  73' 

tliey  may  bo  mistaken  bj  a  rlnld's  proving  of 
a  wicked  disposition.  Our  Lord  says  indeed, 
do  7iQt  forbid  iJum  to  come  unto  me^  |]iereforo  let 
then^  come,  when  thej  arc  grown  up;  ict  them 
come,  when  they  understand ;  when  they  are 
instructed  for  what  end  it  is  they  come  ;  let 
them  be  made  christians  when  they  can  know 
Christ.  What  need  their  innocent  age  make 
such  haste  to  the  foro-iveness  of  sins  ? — For  no 
less  reason  unmarried  persons  ought  to  be  de- 
layed, who  are  likely  to  come  into  temptation, 
as  wxll  those  in  virginity,  as  those  in  widowhood, 
for  being  .without  their  partners,  until  they 
either  marry,  or  be  confirmed  in  co?itinence.^^ 

This  is  considered  hj  some  to  be  liistorical 
evidence  ao-ainst  the  practice  of  infi^.nt  ba;otIsm 
in  the  primitive  church  ;  btif^'Sp  it  be  any  evi- 
dence against  the  practice  of  iWaYitbtrptisrm,  It 
is  equal  evidence  against,  the  pniciicp  of  fe^3,t5tiz- 
ing  unmarried  persons,  though 'aduTri '  -''J'HHn- 
deed  shows  that  TertuUi^in  was  in  favor '^  de- 
laying the  baptisrjfi  both  of  infants  and  ofi'pn- 
mari-ied  persons.  If  it  bo  said  that  li^'cp^jos- 
cd  infant  baptism  because  then  firsi-coining  in- 
to use,  then  it  should  be  granted  that  he  op- 
posed tlie  baptism  of  unmarried  persons,  be- 
cause then  first  coming  into  use ;  but  who  will 
grant  this?  But  if  this  were  not  the  occasion 
of  his  opposing  the  baptism  of  unmarried  pcr- 
ficns,  then  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  it 
was  tlic  occasion  of  iiis  opposing  the  baptism  of 
infants;  and  if  not,  tlio  p»assage  is  ratheV  C;  i 
cyidence  that  it  was  ah"cadv  in  ^^-  f"^:!]^-'^?]  f/^\ 

7 


74  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISE!. 

as  the  baptism  of  unmarried  persons  of  adult 


age. 


A.  D.  about  230,  or  240. 
Origex. 

Discoursing  concerning  original  sin  he  writes 
thus;  "  Hear  David  speaking,  I  was,  says  he, 
conceived  in  iniquity,  and  in  sin  did  my  inotker 
bring  me  forth  ;  shewing  tliat  every  souJ,  that 
is  born  in  the  flesh,  is  polluted  with  the  filth 
of  sin  and  iniquity,  and  that  therefore  that  is 
said,  V,  hich  we  mentioned  before,  t^iat  none  is 
clean frcyn  polhtiov,  ihongh  kis  life  he  hid  f  the 
length  of  cvte  day.  Besides  all  this,  let  it  be  con- 
sidered what  is  tlie  reason,  that  whereas  the 
baptism  of  th^  ^h^roh  is  given  for  the  forgive- 
ness of  sins,uMi'aiits  also  are,  hy  the  utoge  oj  the 
ctep^^  baptized;  when  if  there  were  notlnng 
in^infants  that  wanted  forgiveness  and  mercy, 
uie  rg^-ace  of  baptism  would  be  needleF^s  to 
them.''         Homily  (discourse)  8,  on  Lev.  12. 

Ho  says  again  ;  V'  Infants  are  bantized  for 
the  fcrgiveress  of  sins.  O^  what  sins?  Or 
whv.n  have  tlicy  sinned  ?  Or  how  can  any  rea- 
soii  of  rhe  laver  [washing  vessel]  hold  good  in 
their  case,  but  according  to  that  sense  that  we 
mentioned  even  noAV,  JVone  is  free  from  pollu- 
tion, though  his  life  he  hut  of  the  length  of  one  day 
upon  earih.^^  Homily   14,  en  Luke. 

Again,  '•  In  the  law  it  is  comniai  ded  that  a 
.sacrifice  le  ciTercd  [or  every  child  that  is  bom. 
Lev.  xii.  15.  ^^ pair  cf  turtle  doves ^  or  tico  yoking 
pigeons,  of'ivhich  cr.c  is  for  a  dn  offering,  and  the 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  75 

other  for  a  burnt  oj/erin^.  For  what  sin  is  thi'i 
young-  pigeon  offered?  Can  the  child  that  is 
new  born  h^vc  committed  any  sin?  It  has 
even  then  sin,  for  which  the  sacritice  is  com- 
manded to  be  offered ;  from  which  lie,  whose 
life  is  but  of  one  day,  is  denied  to  be  free.  Of 
this  sin  David  is  supposed  to  have  said  that 
v,hich  we  mentioned  before,  in  sin  did  my 
mother  conceive  me  ;  for  there  is  in  the  history 
no  account  of  any  particular  sin  that  his  motii- 
or  iiad  committed.  For  this  also  it  was, 
uiat  the  ehu.rch  had  dXso  from  the  apostles  ci 
^raditio7i,  (or  order)  to  give  bnptism  even  to 
infants ;  for  they  to  Avhom  the  divine  mysteries 
were  committed,  knew  that  there  is  in  all  per- 
sons the  natural  pollution  of  sin,  which  ought 
to  be  w^ashed  away  by  water  and  the  Spirit,  by 
reason  cf  w^hich  the  body  its^^lf  is  also  called 
the  body  ofsin,^"* 

Commentary  on  Rom.  b.  5. 
Origen  was  born  A.  D.  185,  at  Alexandria  ia 
Egy^t;    he  received   his  education  there,  and 
travelled  thence    to  Rome,    Greece,  Palestine 
and  Syria,    and  into  other  parts ;     he  was  o»^- 
of  the  most    learned   men  of  the  age  in.  ^»' 
he  lived ;    his  labors  to  secure  tbg  >'   ^^y  scrip- 
to  advance   the   !;^-T;iedge  of  ^'^\^fiui  his  own 
tures.  -,.j^  almost  incredible.  *  '^•^Siht  ^^^^^ 

hand  he  wrote  them  out  in  seven  o^  . 
ferent  versions,   according  to  the  most  corx^ 
copies  ;    wc  may  well  consider  it  as  in  a  man-  " 
ner  impossible,   but  that  he  must  have  known 
Yyhat  was  the  practice  of  the  church  in  respect 
to  baptism  for  a  century  or  two  preceding  the 


70.  ESSAY    ON    BA?TiSIv!. 

titno  in  which  he   wrote.     He    died  about  the 
year  of  our  Lord  252. 

A.  D.  253.. 

Thi-3  year  a  council  of  sixty-six  Bishops  was  as- 
f^e'iibied  at  Carthage,  to  debate  u.pon  the  ques- 
tion wiiether  it  were  lawful  to  baptize  an  in- 
fant before  it  were  eight  days  old. 

Fidus,  a  Bishop,  or  elder,  in  the  coimtry,  had 
expressed  a  doubt  whether  an  infant  ought  to 
be  baptized  beforo  the  8th  day.  When  the 
Councilj  convened  on  this  subject,  had  come  to 
a  result,  Cyprian,  BisliPp  of  C^arthage,  wrote  to 
F^:!:-5  thus  : 

'•  As  to  the  case  of  infants,  whereas  you 
judge  that  they  must  not  be  baptized  within 
tu'o  or  three  days  after  they  are  born,  and  that 
the  law  of  the  ancient  circumcision  is  to  be  ob- 
served, so  that  you  think  that  none  is  to  be  bap- 
tized and  sanctified  before  the  8th  day  after  hti 
is  born;  we  were  all  in  our  assembly  of  a  far  dif- 
ferent opinion;  for  in  this  Avliich  you  thought 
fitting  to  be  done,  there  was  not  one  that  was 
of  your  mind: — This  therefore,  dear  Brother, 
'\v:->*i  our  opinion  in  tlie  assembly,  that  it  is  not'for 
us  to  liuider  any  person  from  baptism,  and  the 
<<L'ace  of  God)  who  is  merciful  and  kind,  and  af- 
fcciionate  to  all ;  which  rule,  as  it  holds  for  all, 
so  we  thiak  it  more  especially  to  be  observed  in 
reference  to  infants,  and  those  that  are  newly 

born " 

■    Wall's  Hist.  Inf.  Bap.  pt.  1.  ch.  G. 

It  a^:>pears  that  the  debate  in  this  Council 
was  not,  IVIidher  iiifant  baptism  were  of  divine 
appointment,  for  this  seems  to  have  been  take» 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  77 

for  granted  :  but  the  debate  was,  Whether  it 
ought  not  to  be  deferred  to  the  Stk  day,  as  in  the 
case  of  circumcision.  The  circumstances  taken 
together  do  evlde'itly  import  that  infant  bap- 
tism was,  and  had  been  generally  the  undisput- 
ed practice  of  the  christian  church. 

A.  rr.  300  to  370. 

Gregory  Nazianzen. 

"Hast  thou  an  infant  child?  Let  not  wick- 
edness have  the  advantage  of  time,  let  him  be 
sanctified  from  his  infancy,  let  him  be  dedicat- 
ed from  his  cradle  to  (or  by)  the  Spirit." 

Wall,  pt.  l.chap.  11. 

Gregory  as  well,  as  many  others  of  VaQ  an- 
cient fathers,  used  the  word  sanctified  for  bap- 
tized. Ho  would  have  christian  parents  im- 
prove the  earliest  opportunity  to  do  something 
to  counteract  the  natural  pollution  of  their 
children. 

Shall  we  here  ask.  What  can  parents  do  for 
the  salvation  of  their  children  ?  In  reply  it  may 
be  asked.  What  can  the  ministers  of  Christ  do 
for  the  salvation  of  their  people  ?  Thcr  salvation 
of  all  the  redeemed,  whether  adults  or  infants 
is  of  the  free  grace  of  God,  in  conformity  to 
his  sovereign  election ;  but  he,  who  has  deter- 
mined the  end,  has  also  determined  the  suita- 
ble means  leading  to  the  end.  Believing  par- 
ents are  made  God's  ministers  for  their  chil- 
dren as  well,  as  ihe  preachers  of  the  gospel 
for  their  adult  hearers.  The  idea  that  parents 
by  an  early  and  faithful  dedication  of  their  chil- 
dren in  baptism,  by  their  prayers,  by  religious- 


IS  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

instructions,  and  bj  timely  correctinn,  should  be 
instruments  of  their  salvation,  is  by  np  meaiiPi 
inconsistent  with  the  tenor  of  the  scripture^j 
]iut  abundantly  confirmed  by  them. 

Optatus,  Bishop  ofMilevis, 
Explaining  Galatians  iii.  27.  As  many  of  you 
as  have  been  haptir:ed  into  Christ,  have  put  on 
Christ ;  he  says  of  Christ,  comparing  him  to  a 
garment,  "It  is  not  plaited  (or  contracted)  for, 
infants,  nor  stretched  out  for  young  men,  nor 
is  it  altered  to  suit  women.''  The  import  of 
what  he  here  says  is,  that  baptism  is  adapted 
to  every  age,  even  that  of  the  infant,  to  signi- 
fy the  putting  on  of  Christ. 

Ambros  ; 

Showing  the  resemblance  between  John  the 
Baptist  and  Elias,  and  having  reference  to  the 
miracle  of  Elias  in  dividing  the  river  Jordan, 
sa}^>  "  Perhaps  this  may  seem  to  be  fullilled 
in  our  time,  and  in  the  apostles  time  ;  for  that 
returning  of  the  river  waters  towards  the 
spring  head,  which  was  caused  by  Elias,.  when 
the  river  was  divided,  (as.  the  scripture  says, 
Jordan  luas  driveii  back.^  signiiles  the  sacrament 
of  the  laver  of  salvation  [the  w^ashing  of  salva- 
tion] which  was  afterv/ards  to  be  instituted,  by 
which  infants,  that  are  bantized.  are  reformed 
back  again  froki  (evil)  wickedness,  (or  a  wick- 
ed state,)  to  the  primitive  state  of  their  na- 
ture." Wall,  pt.  1.  ch.  13. 

From  the  above  quotation  it  appears  that 
Ambros  believed  infant  baptism  to  have  been 


ESSAY   ON   BAPTISM.  79 

in  use  in  the  days  of  the  apostles,  no  less  than 
in  his  day. 

A.  D.  380. 
Chrysostom. 

Speaking  of  the  difference  between  circum- 
cision and  christian  baptism,  given  in  the  room 
of  it,  he  says,  '•  Our  circumcision,  I  mean  the 
grace  of  baptism,  has  no  determinate  time,  as 
that  had  ;  but  one  that  is  in  the  beginning  of  his 
age,  or  one  that  is  in  the  middle  of  it,  or  one  that 
is  in  his  old  age  mav  receive  it." 

Wall  p.  1.  ch.  U. 

From  this,  and  various  other  expressions  of 
the  christian  fathers,  it  is  very  evident  that  they 
generally  considered  baptism  as  coming  in  the 
room  of  circumcision,  and  being  essentially  the 
same  thing. 

A.  D.  400. 
C^LESTius  the  Pelagian. 
Infantes  baptizari  in  remissionem  peccatoriimy 
seciijidvm  regulam  universalis  ecclcesio:^,  conjiiemm:. 
In  the  English  thus,    "  We    confess  that  in- 
fants are  baptized  for  the  remission  of  sins,  ac- 
cording to  the  rule  of  the  whole  church." 

[Quoied  hy  Augustine^,  {or  Austin^  as  lie  is  usuaUy  called  hy  a 
cohiraction  of  iht  name.)  in  his  treaii^e  of  &  rig.  sin,  h.  2.  ch.  5. 

AUSTIX. 

"  If  any  one  do  ask  for  divine  authority  in 
this  matter,"  (the  baptism  of  infants)  "though 
that  which  the  whole  church  practises,  and 
which  has  not  been  instituted  by  councils,  but 
was  ever  in  use,  is  very  reasonably  believed  to 


go  E5SAY   ON   BAPTISM. 

be  no  othei%,t}ian  a  thing  delivered  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  apostles  ;  jet  we  may  besides 
take  a  true  estimate,  how  much  the  sacrament 
of  baptism  does  avail  infants,  by  the  circumci- 
sion which  God's  former  people  received." 
Against  the  Donatists,  b.  4.  ch.  15. 
Note.  The  Donatists  were  a  sect,  who  es- 
teemed all  baptism,  administered  in  the  Catho- 
lic church,  whether  to  infants  or  adults,  to  be 
invalid,  of  no  weight,  and  on  that  account  re- 
baptized  those,  who  came  over  to  them. 

A.  D.  410. 

About  this  time  Pelagius  began  to  publish  at 
Rome  the  following  errors.  1.  That  infants 
are  conceived  and  born  w^ithout  original  sin. 
2.  That  the  supernatural  grace  of  God  is 
not  necessary  to  good  works ;  some  of  the 
fathers  of  the  church,  particularly  Hierom  and 
Austin  came  forward  in  opposition  to  the  form- 
er of  these  tenets. 

Austin  urged  against  Pelagius  this  argument,- 
namely  : 

'  Infants  are  by  all  christians  acknowledged 
to  stand  in  need  of  baptism,  wdiich  must  be  in 
them  for  original  sin,  since  they  have  no  other ; 
if  they  have  no  sin,  why  are  they  baptized,  ac- 
cording to  the  rule  of  the  church,  for  the  for- 
giveness of  sins  ?  Why  are  they  washed  in  the 
laver  of  regeneration,  if  they  have  no  defile- 
ment ?' 

Pelagius  was  perplexed  with  this  argument. 
Could  he  have  denied  infant  baptism,  it  w^ould 
have  relieved  him  of  it  ]    but  for  this  he  found 


ESSAY    ON  SaPTISM.  SI 

110  audioritj.  Bccau.se  bo  denied  original  sin, 
it  was  irifej  red  by  some  that  he  denied  infant 
baptism;  but  in  a  letter  to  Pope  Innocent  I.  he 
vindicates  himself  from  this  inference  in  the 
following  terms  ;  '  Men  slander  me,  if  as  I  denied 
the  saci;ameRt  of  baptism  to  infants,  and  prom- 
ised the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  any  person  with- 
out the  redemption  of  Christ. — 1  never  heard 
any,  not  even  the  most  impious  hceretic,  that 
would  say  such  a  thing  of  infants.' 

Wall  Hht.  iiif.  bap.  b.  1,  ch.  19. 
Pelagius  was  born  in  Britain ;  travelled  to 
Rome,  resided  there  sometime,  and  went  thence 
into  Africa,  to  Egypt,  and  to  Jerusalem,  Hence 
we  may  infer  that  he  knew  the  general  senti- 
ment and  practice  of  the  christian  world  cci> 
cerning  infant  baptism. 

From  410  to  1130. 
During  this  peiiod,  a  space  of  more  than 
seven  hundred  years,  according  to  the  concur- 
rent testimony  of  history,  .the  wliole  christian 
church  in  the  world  was'  in  the  practice  of  in* 
fant  baptism.  Wall,  pt.  2.  ch.  10. 

A.  D.  1130. 

jlbout  tilts  time  the  Petrobrusfans,  a  sect  among' 
the  yValdepsss^  taking  their  name  from  Peter 
Bruis,  or  Bruys,  their  founder^  declared  againsi 
infant  baptism^  ajfirming  that  infants,  dying  such^ 
icerc  not  capable  of  salvation.  The  Papists,  who 
•  harged  the  Petrobrusians  with  this  tenet  uon- 
-firning  infauls,  charged  them  a^so  with  teach- 


S3  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

mg  tliat  the  use  of  receiving  the  Lord's  supper 
is  not  to  be  continued. 

Clark's  defence  of  Inf.  bap. 

*The  opinion  of  the  Petrobrusians',  (iheji* 
denying  infant  baptis;n,)  '  seems  to  have  been  ia 
a  short  time  extinct,  and  forgotten.' 

^  Wail,  pt.  2.  cli.  7. 

There  was  a  time  when  the  Waldcnscs  were 
charged  by  the  Papists  with  rejecting  infant 
baptism,  whicli  probably  has  given  rise  to  the 
more  modern  opinion  of  some  fow;  tliat  the 
Waldenses  were  in  sentiment  against  infant  bap- 
tism: but  hov/  they  clear  themselves  from  this 
charge  may  be  seen  in  the  following  declara- 
tion. "The  time  and  place  of  those  that  are 
to  be  baptized  is  not  ordained,  but  the  charity 
and  edification  of  the  church  and  congregation 
must  serve  for  a  rule  therein. — ^And  therefore 
they,  to  whom  the  children  were  nearest  allied, 
brought  their  infants  to  be  baptized ;  as  the 
parents,  or  any  other,  whom  G-od  hath  .made 
charitable  in  that  kind.  True  it  is  that  being 
constrained  for  some  certain  hundred  years,  to 
suffer  their  children  to  be  baptized  by  the 
priests  of  the  church  of  Rome,  they  deferred 
the  doing  thereof  as  long,  as  they  could  possibly, 
because  they  held  in  detestation  those  human  in- 
venticns^  which  were  added  to  that  holy  sacra- 
ment, which  they  held  to  be  but  pollutions 
thereof.  But  forasmuch  as  their  Pastors, 
(whom  they  call  Barbs)  were  many  t-irv^yr^  a- 
broad  employed  in  the  service  gC  their  church- 
es, they  could  not  have  the  sacrament  of  ba{> 
tism  administered  to  their  infants  by  their  own 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  83 

ministers;  for  llifs  cause  ihej  kept  them  long 
from  baptism;  which  the  priests''  [Romish 
priests]  "  perceiving  and  taking  notice  of,  charg- 
ed them  thereupon  with  this  imposture,"  [the 
denying  of  infant  baptism.] — *'  which  not  only 
their  adversaries  have  believed,  but  divers  oth- 
ers, who  have  well  approved  of  their  lilfo  and 
faith  in  all  other  polms." 

Perin'b  Hist,  of  VValdenses,  b,  ].  ch.  3. 

A.  D.   \5?y6. 

We  may  be  further  assisted  in  judging  of  the 
43pinion  and  practice  of  the  Waldenses  by  the 
ihe  following  d^^claration  : 

"  Touching  the  matter  of  the  sacraments,  it 
hath  been  concluded  by  ,the  holy  scriptures 
that  we  have  but  two  sacramental  signs,  which 
Jesus  Christ  hath  left  unto  us,  the  one  is  bap- 
tism, and  the  other  is  the  Eucharist,  which  v/e 
j-eceive  to  show  >vhat  our  perseverance  in  the 
faith  is,  as  we  have  promised,  uhc?!  ive  were  bap- 
tized, being  liitU  irifants  ;  as  also  in  remembrance 
of  that  great  benefit,  which  Jesus  Christ  hath 
done  unto  us,  when  he  died  for  (  ur  redemption, 
washing  tis  with  his  most  precious  blocd;'' 

This  declaration  is  from  the  articles  of  the 
churches  of  Piedmont,  solemn'y  signed  and 
sworn  to,  at  AngrogUce,  Sept.  12,  1535.  The 
propositions,  they  say,  had  been  taught  them 
from  the  father  to  the  son  these  many  hun- 
dred years,  and  taken  out  of  the  word  of  God. 
Perin's  Hist.  Wald.  b.  2.  ch.  4. 

"  As  we  have  promised, — beiiig  little  in- 
fants ;"irirom  this  expression' in  the  declaration 


84  ESSAY    GN    EArTI5.^1. 

above,  seme  have  thought,  that  not  infants  in 
age,  but  iafaiits  in  grace  is  meant.  But  in  re- 
ply it  mav  be  said,  that  the  ancients  considered 
infants,  hte rally  such,  when  baptized,  as  virtu- 
ally promising  to  renounce  the  world,  the  flesh, 
and  the  devil. 

I  inay  .further  observe,  that  infants  by  their 
l3aptism  may  be  most  reasonably  considered  as 
brought  under  a  solemn  obligation,  when  they 
come  to  years  of  understanding,  to  be  the  dis- 
ciples of  Christ. 

ilnother  testimony  concerning  thepractice  of  . 
the  Wctldenses  is  found  in  the  following  passage^ 
"  Whereas  baptism  is  administered  in  a  full  con- 
gregation of  the  faithful,  it  is  to  the  end  that 
he,  that  is  received  into  the  church,  should  be 
reputed  and  held  of  all  for  a  christian  brother; 
and  that  all  the  congregation  might  pray  for 
him.  that  he  may  be  a  christian  in  heart,  as  he 
is  outwardly  esteemed  to  be  a  christian.  And 
for  this  cause  it  is,  thai  ive  present  our  children 
in  baptism^  which  they  ought  to  do,  to  whom 
the  children  are  nearest,  as  the  parents,  and 
they  to  vv'hom  God  has  given  this  cis aerify." 
This  is  found  in  their  docir?ns  f)/ the  sacramtjits^ 
^taken  from  their  old  books. 

Perin,  pt.  3.  b.  1.  ch.  G. 

A.  D.  1510. 

A  little  before  the  reforDaticn  from  Pcpery 
was  began  by  Luther,  which  wa£intho\ear 
1517,  there  were  great  discontents,  and  s(^me 
commotions  an3ong  the  oppressed  coun(ry  peas- 
^bt 9  of" Germany  ^    these  disturbances  ccntinu- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  85 

ing,  about  the  year  1521  JVicholas  Storck^Marh 
Stuher^   and    Thomas   Miintzer    appeared,  and 
taught  the  doctrine  o(  liberty  fioin  subjection  to 
princes  in  temporal  things,  and  ot"  commimity  of 
goods.       These  doctrines  drew  a  multitude  of 
the  common  people  after  tliem;  a  tumult  was 
raised,  which  produced  very  serious  consequen- 
ces.     The  multitude  at  length  followed  Aiunt- 
zer,  committing  dreadful  outrages.     These  dis- 
urbances    being  in  measure  quelled,   Muntzer  , 
^till  proceeded;    he  inveighed   against  the  ref- 
ormation   begun  by  Luther,  as  imperfect,  and 
consulted  with  his  accomplices  upon  the  subject 
of  restoring  the  church  to  a  more  perfect  state. 
They  then   took  it  into  their    thoughts,    says 
Spanheim,    to  baptize  anew  those  that  became 
their  disciples  ;    and  lest  any  scruple   of  con- 
science, in    respect  to   their    former    baptism, 
should  prove  an  obstruction  to  their  design,  they 
declaimed  against  infant  baptism,  condemning  it 
as  unprofitable    and  unlawful,   because  infants 
(they  said)  were  not  capable  of  that  sacrament ; 
but  only  the  adult,  who  \^ere  able  to  judge  and 
choose  for  themselves,  ought  to  have  it  admin- 
istered to  them. 

Clark,  Defence  of  Inf.  bap. 
Such  was  the  origin  of  the  most  serious  op- 
position to  infant  baptism,  which  it  has  ever 
experienced.  From  this  period  the  opposition 
has  continued  and  increased,  and  has  extended 
itself  to  the  present  day,  a  period  of  about  300 
years.  Before  this,  ^vith  one  or  tw©  small  ex- 
ceptions, the  christian  church  was  in  the  con- 
stant, artti  general   practice  of  hifant  baptism, 


.86  ESSAY   ON    BAPTISM. 

as  far  as  appears  from  liistorj,  for  the  space  of 
1500  years.  Here  I  may  remark  that  this  his- 
tory of  the  fact,  thbugh  it  do  not  of  itself  prove 
the  divine  authority  of  infant  baptism,  yet  it  is 
strong;  corroborative  evidence  that  we  do  not 
mistake  in  cur  deductions,  while  we  infer  it 
from  the  scriptures  ;  for  it  appears  that  hun- 
dreds of  thousands,  among  whom  especially 
were  the  martyrs,  have  inferred  the  same  doc- 
trine froTii  the  same  scriptures.  Further,  ii  in- 
fant baptism  be  null  and  void,  and  yet  baptism 
be  necessary  to  church  membership,  where,  for 
seveial  hundred  years  was  the  visible  church 
of  Christ  ?  Did  the  gates  of  hell  prevail  against 
it  ?  No,  certainly  !  and  it  is  a  solemn  f:Ct  that 
God  has  owned  and  blessed,  and  does  own  and 
bless  the  church,  that  maintains  the  doctrine  of 
infant  baptism,  and  practises  according  to  it ; 
and  we  are  confident  that  he  will  own  and  bless 
it. 


A  SKETCH    OP  THE  HISTORY    OF  THE    MODE   OF    BAP- 
TISM. 

It  appears  from  history  that  in  the  early  ages 
after  the  apostles,  the  more  usual  mode  of  bap- 
tism was  to  immerse  the  subjects  all  naked  into 
the  water,  whether  men,  vvcmen  or  children, 
three  times  successively,  once  in  the  name  of 
each  pej  son  of  the  holy  Trinity ;  also  upon 
their  coming  out  of  the  A\ater  to  sign  them  with 
a  mark  of  the  cross,  to  apply  water  to  their 
face,  to  clothe  them  with  white  robes,  and  to 
fsed  them  with  milk  and  honey.      However,  it 


feSSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  ft/ 

appears  that  in  tiraes  very  near  to  the  apostles 
the  mode  of  sprinkling  ifi  baptism  was  occasion- 
ally used.  Cyprian,  who  wrote  about  250  years 
after  Christ,  speakino^  of  sprinklins^,  says,  '  In 
the  sacrament  of  salvation,  (baptism,)  when  ne- 
cessity compels,  the  shortest  ways  of  transacting 
divine  matters  do,  by  Gcd's  grace,  confer  thfe 
whole  benefit.' 

Jn  times  more  modern,  as  tlie  manners  of  na- 
tions changed,  a  regard  for  decency  led  to  the 
administration  of  baptism  by  immersing  the  sub- 
jects in  their  raiment,  when  they  were  im- 
mersed ;  also  a  regard  to  comfort  and  conve- 
niency  led  to  the  administration  of  it  yerj  ex- 
tensively by  sprinklings  seeing  that  in  this  mode 
there  is  nothing  but  what  is  consistent  with  all 
the  representations  of  literal  baptism  in  the  ho- 
ly scripjires.  To  reject  baptism,  adminioter- 
ed  in  either  mode,  as  unscriptural,  and  of  no 
%vorth,  or  validity,  is  to  be  wise  above  v/hat  is 
written.  Could  it  even  be  proved  that  the  a- 
postles  baptized  by  immersion,  or  dipping, 
(which,  however,  does  not  appear  to  admit  of 
proof,)  still  as  this  would  be  but  one  of  several 
modes  of  washing,  I  am  satisfied  that  we  should 
be  no  morfe  bound  to  confine  ourselves  to  this 
particular  mode,  than  we  are  to  confine  our- 
selves to  a  kiss  in  our  christian  salutations ;  or 
to  the  literal  washing  of  one  another's  feet,  in 
the  expression  of  christian  kindness  and  conde- 
scension ;  or  to  a  reclining  upon  the  left  side  in 
partaking  of  the  Holy  supper,  as  in  the  case  of 
Christ  and  his  disciples. 


28  essay  on  baptism 

Miscellaneous  Questions. 

Quest.  I.  What  does  (he  apostle  Paul  meaB 
bj  one  baptism,  in  Eph.  iy.  5  ? 

JlnS'  lie  probably  means  that  christians 
should  be  united  in  receiving  the  doctrine  of  cne 
spiritual  baptism,  ccnsisiir.g  in  an  apjJicaticn 
of  the  benefits  of  the  blood  of  Christ  to  the 
souls  of  the  elect,  by  the  special  infiuences  of 
one  Holy  Spirit  ;  and  in. receiving  the  doctrine 
of  vrbat  is  essentially  one  and  the  same  outward 
baptism,  consisting  in  the  application  of  pure 
"water  to  a  person  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  in  some  decent  mode  of 
v/ashing,  as  a  symbol  of  the  cne  spiritual  bap- 
tism. The  baptism  may  be  essentially  one, 
though  the  modes  of  administration  vary. 

Quest,  2.  What  if  there  be  reason  to  think  that 
my  parents  were  both  unbelievers,  when  they 
offered  me  in  baptism ;  does  this  render  my 
baptism  null  and  void  ? 

An^,  No.  Faith  in  the  parents  and  guardians 
is  an  important  circumstance'  in  the  baptism  of 
infants  and  households,  but  does  not  come  into 
the  essence  of  it ;  this  consists  in  a  sacramental 
•washing  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  a  regularly  ordain- 
ed minister  of  Christ. 

Quest.  3.  By  what  means  does  baptism  re- 
ceived in  infancy  become  truly  and  properly 
my  baptism  ? 

Jlns.  By  means  of  looking  back  to  it  with  an 
eye  of  faith,  contemplating  it  as  a  token  of  the 
covenant  of  grace,  and  as   a    symbol   of  that 


RSSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 


SO 


blood  of  Christ,  which,  applied  to  the  soul  bj 
the  Holy  Spirit,  cleanses  from  all  sin  ;  and  by 
means  of  receiving  it  to  be  to  me  an  outward 
seal  of  the  righteousness  of  faith. 

Quest  4.  W  hat  should  be  the  leading  exercises 
of  my  soul,  when  I  give  up  a  child  in  baptism . 

j^ns.  I  should  exercise  myself  in  a  serious 
contemplation  of  the  blood  of  sprinkling  ;  be- 
lieving in  the  efficacy  of  that  blood  to  remove 
the  stain  of  sin ;  not  doubting  but  that  it  is 
made  applicable  to  the  case  of  the  little  infant ; 
and  fervently  desiring  that  by  the  Spitit  of  God 
it  may  be  applied  to  the  child,  upon  whom  the 
token  of  it  is  nov/  put,  and  that  such  child  may 
be  taken  into'  the  spiritual  arms  of  Christ,  and 
blessed  with  everlasting  blessings. 

Quest  5.  What  was  the  desio-n  of  the  aDOS- 
tie  Peter,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  in  saying  to 
the  mixed  multitude,  For  the  prdmis^j  is  to  you 
and  to  your  children^  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off^ 
even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call? 

^^]ns,  I  think  his  design  was  this  ;  to  remind 
the  Jews  then  present,  that  the  great  promise 
of  the  everlasting  covenant,  made  with  Abra- 
ham, to  be  a  God  to  liim  and  his  seed  after  him, 
was  still  in  force,  and  applicable  to  thoni 
and  to  their  seed,  under  the  gospel  dispensa- 
tion, as  being  the  natural  seed  of  Abraham  ; 
and  to  be  considered  as  an  encouragement  to 
them  to  repent;  in  hope  of  pardon. 

Also,  to    remind  the   Gentiles  present,  that 
the  same  promise  was  then  applicable  to  Gen- 
tile nations  as  well,  as   to  Jev/s ;    as  the  Lord 
should^all  them  to  repentance  ;  and  to  be  con- 
8* 


93  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISI^I. 

sidercJ  as  an  encouragement  to  them,  on  tliLn 
ground,  to  repent,  in  the  expectation  that  God 
%7ould  grant  saving  blessings  to  them  and  io 
their  seed  as  well,  as  to  the  Jews  and  to  their 
seed. 

Some  have  thought  the  promise,  meant  by 
Peter,  was  tiiat  cf  the  miraculous  effusion  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  predicted  by  the  prophet  Joel ; 
but  it  could  not  be  thus,  for  that  miraculous  in- 
fluence was  indulged  only  to  a  feW',  and  confin- 
c.d  to  the  days  cf  the  apostles  ;  but  the  prom- 
ise, of  which  Peter  speaks,  extends  to  all  be- 
lievers throughout  the  world,  and  in  all  ages, 
and  has  respect  to  them  and  to  their  children. 
This  is  no  light  argument  that  the  children  of 
believers  should  be  baptized. — 

Quest,  6.  What  are  we  to  understand  by  the 
^oostle  Paul,  when  he  says,  Gal.  iii.  29.  ^^nd 
if  ye  be  Chrisfs^  then  are  ijc  Ahrahani^s  s^ed^  and 
heirs  according  to  the  promise. 

Ans.  He  teaches  by  this,  that  true  believers 
cfthe  Gentiles  are  the  spiritual,  or  adopted 
Kced  of  Abraham  ;  and  that  according  to  the 
promise,  that  he  should  be  a  father  of  many  na- 
tions, they  are  fellow  heirs  with  believers  cf 
his  natural  seed,  to  the  grea*  and  precious  cove- 
nant privileges  of  which  Abraham  was  posses- 
Fed  ;  among  which  v*^e  may  reckon  the  covenant 
engagement  on  the  part  of  God,  to  be  a  God  to 
liim,  and  to  his  se;ed  after  him  ;  together  Vvith 
tlie  privilege  of  i\\e  seal  of  this  covenant  for 
himself  and  his  infant  offspring ;  and  finally, 
heirs  to  a  title  to  the  heavenly  Canaan,  of 
vhich  the  earthly  Canaan  v/ as  an  eminent  type. 


ESSAY    ON    BAFTJSM.  91 

Quest.  7.  What  are  the  most  like!  j  means  of 
securing  the  descent  of  covenant  blessings  to 
children  and  children's  children  ? 

j^ns.  Strong  faith  on  the  part  of  the  parents 
in  the  covenant  of  promise,  and  .peculiar  care 
and  diligence  in  training  up  children  under  a 
good  discipline,  and  in  giving  them  religious  in- 
Etructions.  /  knopj  him,  says  the  blessed  God 
of  Abraliam,  that  he  will  coinmand  his  children 
and  his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep 
theiuaif  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judgment^ 
that  ilie  Lord  may  bring  upon  Mrahaia  that  which 
he  hath  spoken  of  him. 

Quest.  8.  If  baptism  come  in  the  room  of  cir- 
cumcision, are  we  not  bound  to  confine  it  whol- 
ly to  males,  as  in  the  case  of  circumcision  ? 

c.^fis.  No  ;  for  baptism  may  be  as  easily  ap- 
plied to  females  as  to  males,  it  was  so  applied 
in  the  apostles'  times;  and  the  apostle  Paul 
teaches  that  under  the  gospel  dispensation  the 
distinction  of  Jew  and  Gentile,  male  and  female, 
bond  and  free,  is  done  away.  Gal.  iii.  28. 
Colos.  iii.  1 1. 

Qiicst.  9.  If  baptism  come  in  the  room  of  cir- 
cumcision, are  we  not  bound  io  administer  it  to 
the  infant  on  the  eighth  day  ? 

Ans.  If  under  the  gospel  we  Avere  bound  so 
strictly  to  the  letter  and  circumstances  of  ordi- 
nances, as  the  Jews  were  under  the  former  dis- 
pensation, there  migiit  seem  to  be  some  occa- 
sion to  baptize  precisely  on  the  eighth  day. 
But  in  that  case,  the  I^ord's  Supper,  which  evi- 
dently comes  in  the  room  of  the  passover,  should 
be  celebrated  but  once  a  year )  and  we  should 


92  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM. 

bo  bound  literallj  to  wash  one  another's  feet, 
seeing  we  have  the  precept  and  example  of 
Christ  for  doing  it.  However,  under  the  gos- 
pel dispensation  the  spirit  of  ordinances  is  more 
to  be  looked  ,  at,  than  the  letter  ;  the  leadino' 
idea,  and  essence  of  them,  rather  than  forms 
and  circumstances.  Under  the  former  dispen- 
ssation  the  mother  of  a  male  child  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  legal  impuritj  seven  days  after  its 
birth,  which  was  a  reason  for  deferring  lis  cir- 
cumcision till  the  eighth  day;  Lev.  xii.  1,  2. 
but  under  the  gospel  dispensation  such  legal 
impuritj  is  not  known. 

Quest,  10.  Is  the  rising  of  carnal  nature  in  a 
person  againt  any  sentiment  an  evidence  of  the 
truth  of  such  sentiment  ? 

^^nS'  No,  bv  no  means.  1.  Our  carnal  na- 
ture does  indeed  rise  against  truth,  as  truth 
when  it  is  seen  to  be  triiui;  so  the  rising  of  car- 
nal nature  against  a  sentiment  may  be  a  good 
reason  why  we  should  seriously  examine  that 
sentiment  by  the  word  of  G^od,  that  we  may 
know  whether  it  be  true  ;  but 

2.  If  a  sentiment,  though  erroneous  and  false, 
be  advanced  v/ith  such  plausible  'arguments, 
that  for  a  time  it  seems  to  be  truth,  but  is  con^ 
trary  to  v/]»at  w^e  heretofore  embraced  for  truth, 
carnal  nature  is  likely  to  rise  against  it  ;  again, 

3.  When  a  sentiment  is  prevailing,  which  is 
likely  to  interrupt,  or  destroy  our  temporal  in- 
terest, or  comfort,  carnal  nature  will  rise  against 
it,  though  it  be  false,  and  be  believed  to  be 
false ;  so  not  because  it  is  true,  but  through  a 
selfish  dread  of  its  ccnsequences. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  93 

4.  When  we  are  in  the  embrace  of  error,  the 
devil  is  willing  to  let  us  rest ;  but  when  we  are 
in  the  embrace  of  truth,  he  will  be  devising  all 
possible  means  to  draw  us  into  error,  and  will 
sometimes  stir  up  our  carnal  nature  against  er- 
ror, that  in  this  way  he  may  entangle  our  con- 
science?, and  persuade  us  that  error  is  truth. 

For  want  of  a  careful  attention  to  what  ban 
beem  here  noticed,  many  pious  i-ersons  with- 
out doubt  have  been  drawn  into  very  detriment- 
al errors.  I  would  therefore  solemnly  caution 
my  dear  christian  friends  not  to  judge  of  the 
truth  or  falsehood  of  sentiments  by  their  feel- 
ings, but  by  the  bght  ot  the  divine  word,  and  by 

the  faithful  deductions  of  reason.   Feel  ins:  should 

•  .  .      ^ 

be  built  upon    sentiment,  not   sentmient  upon 

feeling.  I  have  witnessed  the  embrace  of  op- 
posite and  contrary  sentiments,  by  persons, 
"who,  before  the  embrace  of  them,  exhibited 
the  appearance  of  carnal  opposition  to  them. 
The  opposition  was  wrong,  because  it  was  sel- 
fish, and  not  because  the  sentiment  opposed 
was  right.  But  afterwards,  when  conscience 
has  given  a  check,  it  has  been  supposed  that- 
the  sentiment  was  right,  because  the  opposition 
■was  VvTong,  and  so  the  sentiment,  though  real- 
ly erroneous,  has  been  embraced. 

Quest  11.  Is  the  prevalence  of  any  sentiment 
an  evidence  of  its  truth  ? 

JIns.  No  ;  neither  its  prevalency,  though  ex- 
tensive, nor  its  want  of  prevalency.  Some  have 
argued  thus  ;  Our  smtimenls  are  true^  because  we 
are  a  little  despised  company.  Persons  of  the 
same  sentiment  havQ  argued  again  ;  Our  scnti* 
« 


'•94  ESSAY    ON    BAPTISI\L 

ments  are  iruefiecause  they  are  fast  gaining  ground^ 
and.  spread'mg  ever  the  world.  The  truth  of  a 
sentiment  is  not  to  be  inferred  from  its  preva- 
lencj,  ■  or  from  its  want  of  prevalency ;  if  it 
were,  we  might  infer  the  truth  of  absolutelj 
contrary  sentiments. 

Let  us  be  familiar  with  the  word  of  God, 
let  us  receive  its  doctrines  according  to  their 
most  evident  scope  and  tenor,  let  us  conform 
our  present  practice  to  its  plainest  dictates,  and 
let  us  plead  often  for  the  teaching  of  the  holy 
Spirit,  let  us  faithfuiiy  interpret  scripture  by 
scripture,  and  we  shtiU  not  need  be  greatly  per- 
plexed with  doubts  and  uncertainties.  The  ad- 
versary of  our  souls  may  be  suBered  sometimes 
to  aiPiict  us  by  throwing  a  mist  ot  darkness  oyer 
our  minds  ;  but  the  briaht  shinino^  of  trie  w^ord 
will  again  clear  our  way,  and  make  our  path 
plain  before  us,  to  our  great  joy  and  consolation. 


A  HYMN  OF  PRAISE  FOR  EARLY  DEDICATION 

Thanks  to  my  parent;^  dear, 
Whijse  kind  no  wearied  care 

My  infant  lioiirs  uplield; 
Whose  tender  faithfal  arms 
Kept  me  from  sncMen  harms. 

And  oft  ray  fears  dispell'd. 

Thanks  to  my  lieavenly  king. 
Who  tauirht  them  soon  to  briug 

My  tender  feeble  frame. 
Where  saints  unite  in  prayer, 
To  be  devoted  there 

In  God'i  most  holy  name. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  95^ 


Then,  pressM  upon  my  face^ 

The  watery  seal  of  graee 

III  fignre  washM  away 
My  sins  and  left  a  sign 
That  Jesus  must  be  mine, 

Or  death  my  lot  ciust  be. 

By  faith  the  gcal  I  take  ; 
Faith  has  the  power  to  make 

My  parents  deed  my  own 
With  joy  and  peace  and  love 
Tlie  covetianl  I  approve, 

And  rest  on  Christ  alooe. 

O  saced  Tlsree  in  One  ! 
Thy  holy  will  be  dune  1 

Give  me  to  hohl  a  place 
In  thy  West  ehureh  secure, 
From  all  pollution  pure, 

A  Trophy  of  tiiy  graee. 


Address  to  unbelieving  parent*. 

My  dear  friends, 

1  address  you  as  Parents^  as  those  who 
have  a  charge  eiitrusied  to  you  more  precious, 
than  all  the  treasures  of  the  E-ist.  This  treas- 
ure is  your  C/u7c//' 72  ;  it  is  es,)eciaily  iXiesynls 
of  your  children,  their  ne  /er  dying  souls.  But 
I  address  you  as  parents  yet  in  unbehef ;  and 
in  this  respect  not  prepared  to  take  '  proper 
care  of  this  great  charge.  Having  received 
your  children  from  God,  how  greatly  it  concerns 
you  in  a  solemn  act  of  devotion  to  render  them 
back  to  God  again.  But  by  su.»)position  you 
have  never  yet  devoted  yourselves  to  God, 
While  you  withhold  your  own  selves  from  God, 


96  KSSAY  ON    BAPTISJiJ. 

will  he  accept  your  children  at  your  hand  ? 
Will  he  accept  on  your  part  the  ofiering  that  is 
not  of  faith  ?  Will  he  approve  a  merely  hypo- 
critical service  ? — But  can  you  hear  the  thought 
that  at  the  last  day  your  children  should  rise 
up  against  you,  and  say  ;  "  Our  parents  set  us 
an  example  of  unbelief ;  though  their  abode 
was  in  a  christian  land,  they  never  entered  us 
into  the  school  of  Christ;  though  they  sa\T 
others  covenant  with  God,  and  bring  their  chil- 
dren publicly  to  him,  to  receive  the  Savior'i 
blessing,  and  the  token  of  the  covenant  of  grace, 
they  withheld  us  from  these  precious  privileges. 
Though  they  saw  the  prayers  of  saints  engag- 
ed in  behalf  of  other  children,  they  sought  no 
€ach  favor  for  us;  nor  were  they  concerned  to 
be  possessed  of  faith,  that  they  might  pour  forth 
the  prayer  of  faith  for  our  infinitely  precious 
souls  themselves."  Can  you,  I  say  bear  the 
thought  of  this  ?  Should  you  find  yourselves,  at 
the  last  day,  on  the  left  hand,  should  you  also 
find  your  children  there,  and  hear  these  accusa- 
tions, while  conscience  must  seal  the  truth  of 
them,  would  they  not  come  like  daggers  into 
ycur  bosoms  ? — Vo  day  make  your  peace  with 
God  ;  to  day  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
improve  the  first  favcTablc  season  to  be  united 
with  the  (Children  of  God,  to  confess  Chrisf  be- 
fore men, — before  the  world  ;  then  seek  for 
your  children  the  precious  token  of  the  blood 
of  Christ,  the  seal  of  the  everlasting  covenant, 
and  feel  yourselves  solemnly  bound  to  train  them 
up  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  by  daily  persevering 


t:SSAY    ON    BAP'riS]\L  ^7 

prayer  to  endeavor  to  call  do^Tn  upon  them  the 
blessings  of  heaven. 


TO  BELIEVING  PARENTS,  WHO    BRING  NOT  TllClR  CITIT.- 
DREN  TO  BAPT1S:>I. 

Friends  and  Brethren, 

I  address  ycu  as  believing  parents,  but  as 
^parents  in  some  respects  yet  weak  in  the  faith  ; 
as  parents,  who  at  present  arc  not  satisfied  that 
it  is  your  duty  to   present  your  children  to  re- 
ceive the  ordinance  of  baptism  ;  as  parents  who 
do  not  apprehend  that  this  ordinance  is  appli- 
cable to  any,  but  those  who  profess  faith  in  tlie 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.    I  come  not  to  contend  with 
you  concej  ning  mere   modes  and  forms  ;    for 
myself  I  see  not  why  a  drop  of  pure  v/ater  ma} 
not  as  well  signify  the    application  of  the  pre- 
cious blood  of  Christ,  as  an  ocean  ;    nor  do  I 
on  the  other   hand  see  that  an   application  to 
an  abundance  of  water  may  not  be  sanctified 
to  signify  the  application  of  this  blood.     But  1 
do  believe    that  our   children   come   into  the 
world  polluted  with  sin  ;  I  do  believe  that  one 
reason  for  which  circumcision  was  enjoined  to 
be  put  upon  the  infants  of  parents  in  covenanu 
was,  to  teach  that  even  the  sins  of  infants  might 
be  taken  away   by  the  blood  of  a  Messiah  to 
come  ;    that  they  v/ere   capable  of  being  the 
Lord's  in  a    peculiar  sense,  and  of  being  made 
meet  to  inherit  the  heavenly  Canaan.     I  do  be- 
lieve that  baptism  comes  in  the  christian  church j 
ill  the  scope  and  substance  of  it,  in  the  room  of 
.9 


9u  E^SAYON    BAPTISM; 

circumcision,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  apphed  to 
the  infants  and  households  of  beHevers;  I  am 
confident  that  such  an  appHcationof  baptism  is 
of  a  favorable  tendency  towards  the  rising  gen- 
eration. 

I  cannot  conceive  of  circumcision  in  such  a 
low  sense,  as  to  think  it  to  have  signified  only 
i\  title  to  the  temporal  blessings  of  an  earthly 
(ranaan ; — to  have  signified  only  this,  I  say,  in 
the  case  of  infants  and  children,  when  we  know 
ihat  to  Abraham  it  was  a  seal  of  the  righteous- 
ness of  faith.  Believing  as  I  do,  that  it  was  a 
token  especially  that  the  blessings  of  the  ever- 
lasting covenant  might  be  applied  to  Yittle  chil- 
dren and  infants,  though  they  should  be  remov- 
ed by  death  in  infancy,  I  cannot  well  conceive 
that  the  christian  church  should  be  left  with- 
out some  such  token  ;  to  convince  m„e  of  such 
.1  thing,  I  feel  it  needful  to  have  a  manifest  in- 
timation of  the  divine  will,  that  baptism,  the 
present  token  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  should 
be  so  restricted,  as  not  to  be  applicable  to  the 
infants  of  believers.  While  I  find  no  such  in- 
timation, but  much  to  the  contrary,  it  is  not 
without  frequent  pain  of  heart,  that  I  see  so  ma- 
ny professing  parents  withholding  their  children 
from  baptism;  it  is  not  Avithout  pain  that  I  see 
an  effect  of  this,  in  the  case  of  many,  in  a  great 
neoflect  of  the  rello^ious  instniction  of  their  off- 
j^pring  ;  it  is  not  w^ithout  paui  that  1  witness,  m 
ihe  case  of  some,  a  kindred  error,  that  oi  con- 
sidering the  first  day  of  the  week  as  no  more 
pcciu'prly  holy  time,  than  any  other. 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM.  99 

Ye  dear,  but  thus  erring  parents ;  my  pray- 
er to  God  for  you  is,  that  ye  may  be  led  into 
the  truth;  that  ye  may  well  understand  the. 
solemn  duties  you  owe  to  your  children,  and 
that  you  may  have  a  heart  to  discharge  them. 
That  you  may  see  that  your  practice  is  defi- 
cient, till  you  bring  your  households  to  the  sanc- 
tuary of  God,  and  seek  for  them  the  token  of 
that  blood,  which  speaks  better  things,  than 
the  blood  of  Abel;  and  delicient  still,  while 
you  do  not  daily  pray  for  them,  and  endeavor 
to  teach  them  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

Notwithstanding  the  present  falling  away  in 
this  respect,  I  trust  the  time  is  coming,  when 
the  congregation  of  the  saints  shall  be  establish- 
ed before  the  Lord,  and  when  their  children 
shall  be  as  aforetime,-  yea,  in  an  important  sense, 
as  they  w^ere  in  the  house  of  Abraham,  w^hen 
God  had  made  with  him  the  everlasting:  cove- 
nant. 


ADDRESS  TO    THOSE,  WHO  PRACTICE    IDF  ANT   BAP- 
TISM. 

Jlfy  dear  Christian  Friends^ 

Though  in  these  last  days  there  is  a  greaw 
falling  aw5ty  from  the  truth,  w^e  have  reason  to 
rejoice  that  so  many  are  steadfast  in  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and  have  not  for-i 
saken  the  covenant  of  the  Lord.  I  rejoice  (hat, 
though  so  many  of  those  that  name  the  name 
of  Christ  have  such  a  circumscribed  vicv/  of 
the  covenant  of  grace,  that  they  exclude  their 
infant  offspring  from  a  share  in  the  visible  ad- 
ministration of  that  covenant,  and  Avithhold  the 


100  ESSAY    O.':    BAmSM. 

token  of  it  from  them;  there  is  ret  a  large 
»urr;ber,  even  the  greater  part  of  the  christian 
comruunity,  who  entertain  a  more  enlarged  view 
iof  tliis  coveDanf,  and  doubt  not  but  that  it  so 
^Dibiaces  their  infant  seed,  as  to  require  the 
token  and  seal  of  it  to  be  put  upon  them  in  the 
©rdinance  ©f  baptism. 

In  all  my  past  conflicts  upon  this  subiect, 
while  one  has  been  departiug  from  ine  on  the 
right  hand,  and  another  on  the  left,  after  much 
euding  on  both  sides  of  the  cjuesticn,  and  after 
kifien  carrying  the  case  on  my  knees  before  God 
in  secret,  for  the  teaching  of  his  Spirit  by  the 
word,  these  facts,  lliat  God  made  a  covenant 
u'lih  Jlhrahani  for  an  everlasting  covenant,  to  he 
a  God  to  him  and  to  Ids  seed  after  him  ;  that 
Cod  enjoined,  that  the  token  of  this  covenant 
should  he  put  upon  the  infants  of  covenanting  ^^far- 
f.nts  ;  that  Christ  has  said,  Suffer  the  Utile  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God;  and  that  i\\e  a- 
])ostie  Paul  has  declared,  that  Gentile  helicvers 
r.re  engrafted  into  the  same  olive, from  which  mi- 
believing  Jews  were  hroken  off,  and  par  take  of  the 
root  and  fatness  of  the  same  olive  ;  these  facts  .1 
.say,  have  abundantly  satisfied  me  tliat  I  have 
practised  according  to  divine  appointment,  in 
administring  the  ordinance  of  baptism  to  my 
own  children,  and  to  the  children  of  others. 
To  confme  the  token  of  the  covenant  made 
with  Abraham,  when  applied  to  infants  to  sig- 
nify only,  or  principally,  a  title  to  the  earthly 
Canaan,  to  me  is  an  idea  little,  very  little,  yea 
little  in  the  extreme  ;    how  vastly  more  exalt- 


ESSAY    ON    BAPTISM,  101 

cd  is  the  idea,  that  it  signified  especially,  that 
even  infants,  dying  such,  were  capable  of  the 
spiritual  and  eternal  benefits  of  the  covenant 
of  grace  ;  that  the  body  of  the  sins  of  the  flesh 
might  be  removed  even  from  them,  yea  should 
l^e  removed  from  some  of  them,  so  that  they 
should  be  received  into  the  holy  Jerusalem,  in- 
to which  nothing  entereth  that  defile th  ?  Noth- 
ing I  have  ever  yet  met  with  has  led  me  even 
to  doubt  but  that  this  was  a  leading  design  of 
circumcision.  Small  must  have  been  the  con- 
solation of  Abraham,  if  the  covenant  with  its 
token  signified  no  more  for  his  seed,  than  that 
after  some  hundreds  of  years  they  should  pos- 
sess the  earthly  Canaan.  But  no  !  Doubtless 
this  was  not  all  ;  the  earthly  Canaan  w  as  a 
type  of  the  heavenly ;  and  though  circumcision 
had  a  measure  of  respect  to  the  one,  as  a  type, 
it  had  a  vastly  more  interesting  respect  to  the 
other,  as  its  antitype. 

Has  the  christian  covenanting  parent  noth- 
ing under  the  new  dispensation  of  the  cove- 
nant, to  teach  that  his  children,  his  infants,  dy- 
ing such,  may  partake  of  the  benefits  of  the 
Qovenant  of  grace,  may  be  washed  from  their 
sins,  and  may  be  received  to  the  mansions  of 
glory  ?  Yes  ;  the  promise  is  to  them  and  (o 
their  children  ;  they  are  heirs  of  the  blessings  and 
privileges  of  Abraham  ;  having  believed  in  God, 
they  and  all  theirs  may  be  baptized  straight- 
way. 

But  when  the  symbol  of  tlie  blood  of  sprink- 
ling has  been  applied  to  our  children,  have  we 
no  more   concern  with    them  in  a  spiriti.:ril  re- 


102  ESSAY    ON   BAPTISM. 

spect  ?  My  dear  friends,  this  is  but  the  begin* 
jiing  of  our  labors  ;  by  day  and  by  night  our 
prayers  should  ascend  for  them  ;  daily  we 
should  look  to  the  blood  of  Christ  for  them  ; 
>ve  should  look  with  holy  desires  of  its  effectu- 
al applicaiion :  as  their  minds  open,  we  should 
be  careful  to  instil  the  first  principles  of  the 
oracles  of  God  ;  and  should  maintain  over  them 
a  steady  and  faithful  discipline.  From  time 
to  time  we  should  remind  them  of  their  bap- 
tism, and  explain  to  them  its  import  ;  and  let 
us  not  fail  to  set  before  them  a  good  example. 
Thus  doj  my  dear  Christian  Friends,  and  you 
may  entertain  the  joyful  hope,  that  hereafter 
you  may  stand  before  the  throne  of  God,  and 
say,  Here  am  /,  Lord,  end  the  children  iliou  hast 
graciously  given  me. 

AMEN. 


103 

THE  COVENANT  OF  GRACE. 

Great  Gob,  how  rich  ihy  grap e. 
How  sovereign  and  how  free, 
To  (leal  in  covenant  with  our  race 
To  bring  us  near  to  thee. 

*'  I  am  the  mighty  God/' 
The  voice  to  Abraham  said, 
^*  Before  me  in  a  perfect  road 

*'  Let  all  thy  footsteps  tread.*' 

**  My  covenant  then  shall  he 
"  Confirmed  for  endless  days, 
"To  be  a  gracious  God  to  thee, 
"  And  to  thy  future  race." 

"  This  Canaan  liere  below 

"  To  thee  and  thine  I  give  ; 

'*  A  pledge  that  I  will  heaven  bestoiv 

"  On  all  that  shall  believe," 

"  This  token  I  assign 
*'  To  seal  the  promis'd  grace, 
"  Thou  must  be  cireumcis'd,  and  thine, 
"  While  in  their  infant  days." 

*'  The  soul  that  does  not  bear 
"  Deep  ill  the  flesh  the  sign, 
**  That  soul  shall  have  no  lot  nor  share 
"  With  those  accounted  mine." 

Thus  the  Almighty  spake, 
And  made  it  cletir  and  plain. 
That  infants  for  a  Savior's  sake 
Salvation  might  obtain. 

They  bear  indeed  a  yoke, 
But  '(is  ia  mercy  laid  ; 
The  blood  of  eireumcisicn  spoke 
The  blood  our  rauBooi  paid. 


104 

Lonf*  Abraham's  infant  sons 
The  blood?  rite  endure, 
'Till  Jesus  comas,  the  covenant  o\vdS| 
And  bleeds  to  make  it  sure. 

But  blood  in  type  tio  more, 
Since  Jesus  has  been  slain, 
Needs  to  be  shed,  as  long  before, 
To  make  salvation  plain. 

The  covenant  God  renews, 
And  to  the  seal  is  given 
A  milder  form,  and  clearer  views 
Now  mark  the  way  to  heaven. 

Yet  still  the  infant  race 
Of  faithful  parents  find 
In  this  new  covenant  scheme  of  grace 
A  happy  place  assign'd. 

The  blessed  Savior  takes 
Young  children  in  his  arms  ; 
What  words  of  mercy  then  he  speak?, 
How  full  of  heavenly  eharnis. 

**  Let  the  young  children  eome^ 
"  Command  them  not  away  ; 
**  My  father's  kingdom  still  has  room 
*"  For  infants,  such  as  they." 

If  we  be  Christ's,  then  heirs 
Of  Abraham,  as  his  seed. 
In  Abraham's  blessing  we  have  shares^ 
And  may  the  promise  plead, 

TiCi  faithful  parents  still 
Their  infant  oft'spring  bring, 
Receive  for  them  the  milder  seal, 
And  give  them  to  their  King, 


105 

Ju  faith  find  prayer,  and  hope 

M^e  look  to  Jesus'  blood, 
And  freely  ^ive  our  children  up, 
That  God  may  be  their  God. 

If  God  his  grace  bestow 
We'll  (rain  them  in  the  way 
The  young  disciples  ought  to  go, 
To  dwell  iu  endlc&s  liiay. 

If  early  death's  arrest 
Their  budding  souls  remove, 
Re^i^^n'd,  we'll  leava  them  on  the  breast 
Of  everlasting  love. 


A 


ERRATA. 

^^ge  ^,  koe  €S— ifcr  the  read  ^^j^. 
12,  1 — for /iis  read  Tkis. 

SI,  £6— for  5o  read  To. 

Sr,  32 — after  nature  of  the,  add  f^ir*',  andfraii' 

3&,  25 — after  spiritual  add  sg«se. 

4I9  4 — after  Colos*  ii.  J 1,  t2,  add  we  read. 

4a,  1 — for  pudata  read  hudata. 

^8,'  7— far  ^ia9^?*^*S"  ^^^^  ^ii»(f»2^«sr. 


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